Connecting with Europe: Zero Waste and CHORIZO Final Event
On September 16, Dining Flow had the opportunity to take part in the final event of two major European projects — Zero Waste (https://www.zerow-project.eu/ ) and CHORIZO (https://chorizoproject.eu/). For the Dining Flow, this was more than just another conference. Our goal in joining was to connect with peers across Europe, share what we’ve been learning here in Finland, and see how our work fits into the broader European vision of sustainable food systems.
A European Vision for Food and Sustainability
The event opened with a keynote speech by Dr. Klaus Bered, Director of Food Safety and Sustainability at the EU level. His talk was truly inspiring. It shed light on the EU’s ongoing efforts to build a more sustainable and responsible food ecosystem. Listening to him reinforced our belief that Finland, and especially the University of Turku, have much to contribute to this shared European vision. Our task now is to continue building connections with other leaders in the field and to stay alert for upcoming collaborative opportunities.
Learning from the CHORIZO and Zero Waste Projects
Following the opening, coordinators from both projects, Lies Messely (CHORIZO) and Anna George (Zero Waste), presented a summary of the outcomes of their projects. Their achievements were impressive and offered valuable insights into how Dining Flow can contribute to and learn from these initiatives.
During the day, it was evident that to realize that Flavoria as a research platform can provide tangible value to future European projects like these. CHORIZO’s experience in data-driven approaches is easier to see how it aligns with our work, while Zero Waste’s systemic perspective on sustainability challenges reminds us of the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and it complement our current work nicely, as it can help us to see to a wider picture with visions to the future. The idea of bringing our teams together in joint activities feels both relevant and exciting.
Scientific Impact and Data Integration
The scientific contributions of both projects are worth highlighting. Their publications and deliverables offer deep insights into innovation, data use, and sustainable practices in the food sector. The event’s panel discussions on data integration resonated strongly with our own ongoing conversations within Dining Flow, as we have discuss in previous Dining Flow events.
We also joined data-focused workshops, where participants exchanged knowledge on systematic innovation and practical solutions for waste reduction. It was inspiring to see how shared data and interdisciplinary collaboration are helping close the loop between research and real-world application.
Building Bridges for Future Collaboration
One of the highlights of the event was our conversation with Anna George, Principal Investigator of Zero Waste. She is leading a project involving 42 countries and developing three patents. To listen about her experiences was both humbling and motivating. We’ve invited her to join our final Dining Flow event in Finland, where we hope to continue exchanging knowledge and fostering collaboration.
Looking Ahead
Events like this remind us that innovation doesn’t happen in isolation. The opportunity to meet inspiring researchers, policymakers, and industry partners showed us how collaboration across Europe can amplify the impact of our work.
At Flavoria, we have valuable resources and data that can contribute meaningfully not only within Finland but across the European research landscape. Connecting these efforts is key to shaping a more sustainable future.
