New project to combat food waste in India!

New project to combat food waste in India!

On July 5, 2025, a new research project entitled “Sustainable Rurbanity – Resources, Society, and Regulatory Systems” was launched. This ambitious project is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) for a period of four years. The project coordination is carried out by a team of experts consisting of Prof. Dr. Andreas Bürkert from the University of Kassel and Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Schareika from the University of Göttingen.

A central sub-project is called “RurbanFoodWaste” and is led by Prof. Dr. Amelie Bernzen and Prof. Dr. Eva Badly directed. The aim of this sub-project is to develop a deeper understanding of the causes and flows of food waste and losses. The focus is particularly on the use of food waste as animal feed, which takes into account both economic and ecological aspects.

Bengaluru research area

The research is being conducted in Bengaluru, India, a region with a high density of small-scale dairy farms. These farms play an important role in the context of Indian agriculture, as India is the world's largest milk producer and at the same time has to contend with high levels of food waste. The researchers want to find out how competition between feed and food production can be designed to promote more resource-efficient and inclusive food systems.

The project aims to work with local partner institutions and thus promote sustainable development. The findings should not only contribute to improving nutritional strategies in India, but also provide new impetus for food utilization in this country.

National strategy against food waste

The issue of food waste is becoming increasingly urgent in the German context. According to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMLEH), Germany generates around 10.8 million tonnes of food waste every year, with the aim of reducing this waste by 2030. In Germany, this waste occurs in all sectors, including primary production, processing, trade, private households and out-of-home catering.

In order to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda, the national strategy is being continuously developed. An important building block is the Competence Center for the Prevention of Food Waste (KLAV), which has served as a central contact point for companies since 2025. Initiatives such as “Too good for the bin!”, which was launched back in 2012, aim to raise consumer awareness.

In addition, a pact against food waste was concluded in June 2023 between the BMLEH and 14 food wholesale and retail companies, which envisages a reduction in food waste by 30% by 2025 and by 50% by 2030. Dialogue formats such as the Private Households 2.0 Dialogue Forum, which was launched in October 2023, also serve to optimize measurement methods and develop new measures to avoid waste.

The initial results of these measures and strategies are expected to be clearly presented in the final report of the first phase of the national strategy, to be published next March 2025.

The synergy between the approaches in Germany and the findings from the project in Bengaluru could provide valuable inspiration for more effective strategies to combat food waste worldwide. The challenges are huge, but so are the opportunities for more sustainable use of resources.

For more information about the BMLEH's measures to reduce food waste, visit BMLEH website.

The University of Vechta provides information about its role in this exciting project on its website website as well as the current state of research.

Additional information can also be found on the Website of the Federal Environment Agency.