Think of Food Connect as a food-sharing App focused on food donation and community support. The app connects businesses with individuals and organisations who can benefit from it, helping prevent perfectly edible food from being wasted, while making food more accessible to people in need. As part of its Zero Waste Campaign, Friends of the Earth Malta is proud to contribute to this project and to introduce in Malta a food waste reduction app that can make a real difference by helping reduce waste and supporting people across the island. 

• What is Food Connect ?

Food Connect is a European initiative aiming to tackle the food waste crisis in Southern Europe by promoting more sustainable food systems and strengthening collaboration between food businesses, civil society organisations, and local communities.

The initiative aims to upscale, improve, and enhance a LIFE-funded “Collaboration Network Platform” by making it more accessible, efficient, and intelligent, while piloting its replication in Portugal, Malta, and Cyprus.  By uniting stakeholders from the food and hospitality sectors, scientific communities, and policymakers, Food Connect fosters collaboration and facilitates effective food donation strategies tailored to local needs. 

Developed through the LIFE-funded project “Food Connect: Connecting Food Systems in Southern Europe” (LIFE Project No. 101148772), the initiative creates a collaborative food donation platform connecting food donors and recipients through an easy-to-use online platform and mobile application available on Google Play and the Apple App Store https://www.thefoodconnect.eu/en/register 

Project objectives : 

• Pilot implementation of the Food Connect platform
• Awareness and communication campaigns to promote action against food waste. 
• Strengthening collaboration between food businesses, organisations, and communities
• Upscaling and replication of the Collaboration Network platform in Malta, Portugal and Cyprus

Project partners : 

• Malta – Friends of the Earth Malta

• Cyprus – DIAS Media Group, Friends of the Earth Cyprus, Base Element

• Portugal – ZERO, Inova+

Project duration :

Starting September 2024

How does Food Connect work?

Food Connect creates a direct connection between:

1.Food donors

It can Include : 

• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Bakeries
• Food shops
• And all other businesses that sell food. 

2. Food recipients

It can include: Anyone who wishes to benefits from surplus food that is still perfectly edible. 

With just a few clicks : 

• Businesses can set aside surplus food for donation in a bag (around 1kg) or a box (around 5kg), upload it on the app, and choose a suitable pickup time.
• Recipients can then claim the available food directly through the app and collect it from the business.

A solution that benefits everyone

Food Connect creates a positive impact for businesses, communities, and the environment.

For businesses, joining Food Connect is an opportunity to transform surplus food into meaningful social and environmental action.

• Support local communities : help individuals and organisations access food that would otherwise be discarded.
• Increase visibility and showcase your commitment : highlighting efforts towards sustainability.
• Reduce waste management costs : by donating surplus food, businesses can potentially reduce the amount of food waste they need to dispose of and optimise their waste management practices. Businesses can deduct the cost of donated food just like regular lost stock – it’s treated as “written off” goods.
• Contribute to sustainability goals : by reducing food waste, businesses help lower greenhouse gas emissions and support their corporate sustainability commitments.

Why this is important

• Under the EU Waste Framework Directive, by the end of 2030 EU countries must reduce food waste in restaurants, hotels, and food services by 30% per person compared to the 2021–2023 average.
• In 2024, Malta generated 36,296 tonnes of kitchen and canteen bio-waste. Much of it could have been eaten instead of thrown away. 
• Food waste decomposing in landfills causes the release of methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas, so is one contributing factor to climate change where we make a difference through simple changes.
• Food Connect represents a first step towards these objectives by helping transform the way we manage surplus food and encouraging more sustainable practices. Tackling food waste requires a global transition, and every action counts in building a more sustainable and fair food system. 

Check out the Food Connect Website and register as a donor or receiver here