SIMBIORED Operational Group: Network of Collaborative Territorial Ecosystems for the Prevention of Food Loss and Waste

The project fosters collaborative territorial ecosystems to reduce food loss and waste among small and medium-sized producers. It integrates Communities of Practice, two multi-sectoral Living Labs, a modular digital ecosystem, trained food valorization agents, and an inclusive governance framework. The approach enables the activation of practical solutions such as gleaning, processing, redistribution, and animal feed, improving coordination among producers, recipients, businesses, and government agencies. The project strengthens circular value chains, increases the efficiency of surplus use, and provides transferable tools and methodologies that professionals can apply in their regions, ensuring sustainability and scalability.

Three state-level Communities of Practice (CoPs) bring together forty-five stakeholders from the agricultural, livestock, and fisheries sectors to exchange knowledge and develop practical solutions to food loss and waste. The CoPs foster peer learning, identify technical, operational, and regulatory barriers, and promote innovative approaches such as gleaning, processing, redistribution, and animal feed. Through thematic sessions and challenge-solving workshops, professionals access tools, experiences, and methodologies applicable to different regions. The CoPs strengthen collaboration across the food supply chain and facilitate the adoption of efficient and circular practices.

Two regional Living Labs in Catalonia and Murcia bring together more than fifty stakeholders to co-create and test multi-sectoral food symbiosis solutions. These real-world pilot projects allow participants to explore prevention and valorization strategies such as redistribution, processing, logistics coordination, and animal feed. Through site visits, collaborative workshops, and impact assessments, participants identify barriers, validate viable solutions, and work to prevent one hundred tons of food waste. The Living Labs strengthen cooperation among producers, recipients, businesses, research institutions, and government agencies, generating replicable methodologies.

A modular digital ecosystem is being developed to support food symbiosis networks by connecting producers and recipients of surplus food from different sectors. The platform integrates a collaborative community space, stakeholder mapping tools, traceability functions, and specialized knowledge resources for the primary sector. Designed through participatory processes, it improves coordination, reduces information gaps, and facilitates access to prevention and valorization strategies. The system promotes rural digitalization and offers professionals an accessible tool for managing surplus food and activating collaborative solutions.

Food valorization agents are being trained to lead local symbiotic networks and ensure the continuity of prevention efforts. Their role includes coordinating stakeholders, activating surplus flows, supporting logistics, ensuring regulatory compliance, and promoting circular business models. The project creates a validated business model and offers digital tools for monitoring and decision-making. These agents act as key facilitators in territorial ecosystems, improving efficiency and enabling small and medium-sized producers to adopt innovative solutions.

The project establishes an inclusive governance model that brings together at least five founding members and coordinates the digital ecosystem, Communities of Practice, and territorial Living Labs. The framework defines roles, ensures transparency, and facilitates joint planning among producers, recipients, social entities, government agencies, and technology partners. A co-created roadmap guides long-term sustainability, enabling replication and informed decision-making. The governance structure provides a stable environment for adopting and scaling food symbiosis solutions.

The project will generate a clear and useful impact for end users through three expected results.

RD1 – Communication and access to solutions: farmers and professionals will have access to clear, attractive and up-to-date information through websites, social media, newsletters, audiovisual materials and workshops, facilitating the knowledge and practical application of results and innovative solutions.

RD2 – Visibility and sectoral trust: media presence and dissemination through specialized press will broaden the reach, reinforce the credibility of the project and raise awareness among a wider audience about its real benefits.

RD3 – Technical transfer and improvement opportunities: through sector events, specialized content and audiovisual materials, users will be able to identify specific applications that help improve productivity, optimize costs, reduce risks and increase the competitiveness and sustainability of their farms.