DEVELOPING WASTE MANAGEMENT SKILLS FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF FOOD SECTOR.

Economic growth in Europe is causing environmental problems thus highlighting the need to minimize waste. Sustainable Development Goal 12 "Sustainable Production and Consumption" focuses on three aspects: waste management, energy saving and resource usage minimization. The aim of this study is to analyse the current needs for professional food waste management knowledge in European food production companies and develop waste minimization skills for food sector's vocational education students. The study is based on a mixed methodology combining desk study, comparative analysis and logical design research methods as well as focus group interviews with the representatives of different food sub-sectors. The results of the study reveal that, although waste management processes in European countries are well regulated, food sector workers currently lack waste management skills and thus need professional trainings to efficiently participate in waste reduction, reuse and recycling to comply with the principles of the circular economy. The results of the research were used to develop a vocational training curriculum that can be used by vocational education trainers as well as food sector companies to reduce waste and promote a zero-waste management culture in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]