Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Background, context and objective
To increase the sustainability of food systems and ensure enough food for growing populations, the agri-food sector needs to become more productive, environmentally sustainable, and resource-use efficient. A circular economy, with resource-use efficiency and bioeconomy at its core, can help improve the sustainability of food systems. The concept is built on the premise of eliminating waste and pollution, circulating products and materials at their highest value, and regenerating nature.
The Republic of Serbia is committed to increasing the circularity of its economy. In 2021 a Roadmap for Circular Economy in Serbia was developed, which identifies agriculture and food as one of the four preliminary priority sectors for a circular economy transition in Serbia.1
Under the project “Accelerating the Transition towards a Circular Economy in UNECE Region” (2021-2024), UNECE has been working to support the transition to a circular economy in the UNECE region. In Serbia, the focus has been on the agri-food sector.
The objective of the meeting is to present and discuss key recommendations and suggested actions contained in the draft roadmap for circularity in agri-food with a focus on food loss and waste reduction and management developed under the project, aiming to validate the findings and invite additional suggestions by key Ministries of the Government of Serbia.