SAVOR Project Launches in Lisbon to Drive Food Waste Reduction Through Skills and Collaboration
The Erasmus+ project SAVOR has officially launched in Lisbon, Portugal, with its first consortium meeting hosted at Lusófona University (COFAC). The kick-off marked the beginning of a two-year European initiative focused on reducing food waste and accelerating the transition towards a more circular, resilient and net-zero food system.
SAVOR brings together partners from Spain, Latvia, Bulgaria, Italy and Portugal, united by a shared commitment to tackling food waste across both household and professional kitchen environments. The project aligns closely with EIT Food’s mission to drive systemic change in the food system, addressing sustainability challenges through education, innovation and collaboration.
A key objective of SAVOR is to strengthen connections between agriculture professionals and kitchen professionals, recognising the importance of cross-sector collaboration to prevent food waste along the value chain. Over the next two years, the project will develop educational resources, interactive digital platforms and targeted dissemination activities aimed at students, educators and food industry professionals across Europe.
The SAVOR consortium includes EIT Food (Spain), CIFP Hostelería LHII (Spain), SIA “HOTEL SCHOOL” Viesnīcu biznesa koledža (Latvia), COFAC / Lusófona University (Portugal), Italian Hospitality School (Italy) and Varna University of Management (Bulgaria). Together, the partners will co-create practical tools and learning experiences to help mitigate food waste in both domestic and professional kitchen settings.
During the Lisbon meeting, consortium members also visited Encanto, a Lisbon-based restaurant awarded a Green Michelin Star for its commitment to sustainability. Head Chef Diogo Formiga and Head Waiter Inés Jones shared insights into their creative process and day-to-day sustainable practices, illustrating how circular economy principles can be successfully applied in high-end gastronomy.
The launch meeting set a strong foundation for collaboration, positioning SAVOR to deliver tangible impact by equipping current and future food professionals with the skills needed to reduce food waste and contribute to a more sustainable European food system.