In order to achieve the goal of generating added value from surplus fruit and vegetables while offering customers tasty food as part of a sustainable lifestyle, a holistic approach, which considers all stakeholders in the value chain, is necessary. The starting point for this is establishing a good network of farmers, political stakeholders (in the field of agriculture, for example), logistic partners, consumers, stakeholders in cities, ecological and social NGOs, and research centres for more in-depth knowledge. Through a high degree of flexibility, creative combinations and a strong, young brand, Unverschwendet aims to find the most efficient, economical and effective solution to create value from as much surplus food as possible. In fact, the start-up is already looking into expanding its surplus uses as well as its product range, for example by cooperating with other speciality food producers or developing products for restaurants (B2B). Once the best way forward is found, the founders want to expand their project across Europe in order to prevent even more food from being wasted and to establish food waste prevention as a new aspect of sustainable consumption. They therefore plan to adapt their model and are open to making the necessary changes.
Circular economy-friendly
and climate neutral eggs and meat from male chicks Kipster
The Netherlands Kipster is a climate neutral poultry farm with a sharp focus on the circular economy that produces eggs and meat from male chicks (the brothers of the laying hens) in a climate neutral and circular way. The chickens are partly fed with food waste such as waste from bakery products and by-products of oats. The laying hens are reared according to the three-star criteria of the Dutch Animal Welfare Association which is the highest animal welfare category. The brothers of the laying hens (the male chicks) are not wasted but are used for meat and slaughtered at the age of 15 weeks. The meat is then processed into chickenmeat burgers. Both eggs and meat burgers are sold at Lidl supermarkets in the Netherlands. Kipster obtained an exclusive five-year contract for this. The eggs are sold at the price of organic eggs which makes a good business case! Per annum, we rear 24,000 laying hens and the same number of male chicks. The initiative was launched in October 2017 (first sale of eggs) and in February 2018 (first sale of meat burgers) and sales are doing very well. Challenges: The male chicks are reared in a conventional way. A system is being developed so that the male chicks can also be reared in the same conditions (i.e. animal welfare, circular feeds) as the laying hens. With support of the ‘Food Heroes’ project, a system will be designed using knowledge and research gathered from Wageningen University and in cooperation with the Dutch Animal Welfare Association. Rolling out the initiative is a challenge. If sales continue to grow then this should justify the initiative and allow for this first chicken house to be scaled up to house a greater number of chickens and male chicks.
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