Zinc enrichment of waste apple pomace – sustainable strategy to combat micronutrient deficiency (Project ID: PoC5796)

Published on February 17, 2023

The goals of this project are twofold: it supports the efforts in minimization of food waste disposal and it addresses to micronutrient deficiencies as an important global health issue with special focus on zinc deficiency.

Increase in global food production and consumption inevitably leads to increased waste generation. In order to diminish amounts of waste generated, as well as negative environmental and economic effects, sustainable solutions needs to be applied. Concerning the remarkable nutritional properties and fact that organic by-products from fruit processing industries is mostly landfilled as waste, Project is focused on its reuse for environmental and socioeconomic benefits.

The Project is particularly relevant because food processing and food waste management in Serbia are very limited. Currently less than 10% of this biodegradable waste is recycled, while the most of this valuable, low cost renewable resource ends up in open landfills. The dumping of biodegradable waste at open landfills causes a significant amount of greenhouse gases, particularly CH₄, which has more than 28 global warming potential (GWP) compared to CO₂ (1GWP). Estimation is that by diverting food waste from landfills savings of 580kg CO₂eq per ton can be made. Since this biodegradable waste is still mostly landfilled, Project provides solution for waste prevention and reuse of this abundant, low-cost material, exceptionally rich source of renewable and valuable components.

Also, European Council Directive 1999/31/EC pronounces that bio-waste with more than 3% organic content is no longer accepted for landfilling. Since, Serbia is in process of negotiation with EU commission, Project will give support to activities that should be implemented in the future, in order to meet EU environmental standards.

Project contribution to sustainable consumption and production are:

-Project gives support to small and medium–size enterprises to move from the linear to circular economy, which leads to resource savings, raw material and energy efficiency and environmental protection.

-The results of Project are directed toward development of innovative, healthy and nutritional products which could at the same time accelerate health gains and reduce the price on specific markets.