ECOFOODCYCLE Week Transforms Gospić into a Center for Action Against Food Waste
From 15 to 19 June, Gospić hosts ECOFOODCYCLE Week - five days dedicated to sustainable food systems, food waste prevention and the promotion of the circular economy.
Organised by the Development Agency of Lika-Senj County - LIRA, as lead partner of the ECOFOODCYCLE project, the programme offers a range of events aimed at the general public, children, professionals and institutional representatives from Croatia and Italy.
Cooking Show, Exhibition and Good Practice Visits
The week opens with a cooking show by a chef, who will demonstrate on Stjepan Radić Square from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. how to prepare delicious dishes from ingredients that might at first glance seem like waste - but are in fact the very thing that turns a meal into an unexpected speciality. At the same time, a public exhibition will open on the Square, offering visitors practical ways to reduce food waste in everyday life alongside the latest scientific insights into the use of by-products from the food industry.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, Gospić will host the international Cross-Border Multi- Stakeholder Meeting, a two-day gathering of project partners and key stakeholders from Croatia and Italy. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the recently launched project pilot activity - the Zero Waste Innovation Lab in Gospić - take part in hands-on workshops, and visit inspiring local examples of good practice. Through visits to businesses and family farms, they will learn and discuss how surplus food and by-products can be transformed into new products, business opportunities and sustainable rural development models.
Thursday is reserved for the youngest. Children will take part in interactive educational workshops on food waste prevention and a fun treasure hunt, learning about the value of food, responsible consumption and the importance of protecting the environment. Buildingsustainable habits from an early age is one of the preconditions for creating a society that manages resources responsibly.
Instead of Throwing Food Away - Sharing It Means Caring
The week closes with a food distribution, a reminder that the fight against food waste also has a strong social dimension. While the aim on one side is to reduce the amount of food thrown away, on the other it is equally important to build solidarity and systems that allow surplus food to reach those who need it.
The goal of ECOFOODCYCLE Week is to raise awareness among residents of Lika-Senj County that reducing food waste is not solely an environmental issue. It opens space for new product development, strengthening the local economy, driving innovation and connecting communities. Lika-Senj County and the City of Gospić have the opportunity to become an example of how local distinctiveness, entrepreneurship and international cooperation can come together in building more sustainable food systems.
The ECOFOODCYCLE project – Reducing Food Waste and its Environmental Footprint through Sustainable Food Systems – runs from April 2024 to September 2026 under the Interreg VI-A Italy Croatia Cross-Border Cooperation Programme 2021–2027, with a total budget of €2,277,999.99. The project brings together seven partners from Croatia and Italy - the lead partner is the Public Institution Development Agency of Lika-Senj County LIRA, joined by the Development Agency of Karlovac County, ZADRA NOVA Development Agency, the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Rijeka, ECAMRICERT S.R.L., the University of Foggia, and the Confederazione Nazionale dell'Artigianato e della PMI Abruzzo. The project pursues three key objectives: assessing the environmental footprint of food waste and developing a stakeholder engagement model; testing food waste reduction solutions through a digital platform and eight regional pilot actions; and raising awareness and promoting sustainable food practices across the Adriatic basin.
