Social impact of the recovery and donation to charities of fruit and vegetable products
On 25 September 2024, LOWINFOOD partner Federico Tonegatti (University of Bologna) presented at the Retaste Conference the results of the evaluation of the social impact of the software (S.I.R. Platform) created by the government of the Emilia-Romagna Region in Italy.
This software promotes and facilitates the management and donation of surplus fruits and vegetables to certified charities, allowing for continuous monitoring of the quantities of food donated. Farmers who contribute their surpluses are reimbursed by government mechanisms, and its effectiveness and transparency have led the system to garner numerous positive evaluations from both national and EU policymakers.
LOWINFOOD researchers have assessed the social impact generated by the use of the S.I.R. platform for the first time. This evaluation has elucidated the value created by rescuing fruits and vegetables across various participants in the food rescue chain, including producers and POs, charities, public administrations and other stakeholders. In other words, the study calculated how many euros of social value are generated by each euro invested in the operation of the SIR platform.
This research contributes to expanding knowledge on the effects of food recovery and donation efforts, emphasizing the critical need for a collaborative approach involving multiple stakeholders to fully understand the real benefits these programs offer.
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