About 150,000 t of food waste is generated annually in Macedonia (the value is estimated at several million euros). There is no law that provides the management of food waste. With this proposal, from the plant and animal food waste compost can be produced, while from the cereal and beard-based food waste using filamentous fungi Rhizopus textile fibers can be produced. Through a special technological process, the obtained textile fibers can further be handed over and processed in the industry.
National
North Macedonia
The concept is still in the stage of a clearly defined idea, but it has not been realized in the form of a project. This project could be implemented only if we secure funds and cooperation from the relevant institutions.
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): Association for scientific-research, educational and cultural activities "Open Science" Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Monika Last name of representative: Stojanova Age: 29 Please attach a copy of your national ID/residence card:
By ticking this box, I certify that the information regarding my age is factually correct. : Yes Gender: Female Nationality: orth Macedonia Function: President of the Association "Open Science" Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: ul. Jane Sandanski br. 61/16 Town: Ohrid Postal code: 6000 Country: North Macedonia Direct Tel:+389 70 673 298 E-mail:stojanova.monika@yahoo.com Website:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Monika-Stojanova
Food waste is a major social, nutritional and environmental issue, affecting the sustainability of the food chain as a whole. About 150,000 tons of food waste is generated annually in North Macedonia, the value of which is estimated at several million euros. That is, a poor country, such as North Macedonia, annually has such a large loss of food, without there being any solution to overcome this problem. There is no law or other act that provides for the utilization of food waste or any other form of management of this type of waste. The appropriate collection of food waste from primary agricultural production and from the food industry and its transformation into a new product will be of special importance for North Macedonia. Such a mass model of circular economy has not been applied anywhere in the region. In this way, from the plant and animal food waste compost will be produced, while from the cereal products and beard-based food waste using filamentous fungi textile (with leather-like properties) will be produced. This idea can easily be adapted and applied in any other country in the world that has the same problem with too much food waste ending up in landfills.
environment
circular-economy
recycling
food-waste
microbiology
This proposed project has a significant impact on environmental sustainability through multiple aspects. Namely, food waste represents a serious problem for every society, not only because of financial losses, but also because of environmental pollution during the process of its destruction in landfills. On the other hand, the textile / fashion industry also causes significant environmental pollution. Through the utilization of food waste, one of the key links in the chain of environmental pollutants is regenerated first. Furthermore, new products are obtained: compost - which is returned to nature in the form of useful substances for the soil and plants; and textile fibers (with leather-like properties) - which can be further processed by the textile industry, but with a significantly reduced amount of pollutants in the atmosphere.
All of this is of great importance at a time when we are facing a global problem of air, water, and soil pollution, which further leads to serious disturbances, such as climate change, the production of chemically contaminated and unsafety food, etc.
Through the new products that are proposed with this concept of food waste processing, it is also possible to significantly influence the cultural values of the country from which they originate. Namely, these products can be designed based on the values of a country, thus being an ambassador and messenger of culture. Thus, the textile fibers (with leather-like properties) can be turned into products with folklore and folk motifs, while the compost can be used for the production of fruits and vegetables that are characteristic of the given country. Furthermore, industrially processed products can be produced (in the case of North Macedonia, these would be ajvar, lutenica, malidjano, compote, fruit sweet, komat, etc.), and all this represents the promotion of Macedonian traditional cuisine and gastronomy. Such products can be exhibited at international fairs. At the same time, this would increase the interest in organic production, that is, the reduction of chemical agents used in agricultural production.
All this represents a great cultural landmark of North Macedonia. This model can easily be applied in any country.
The implementation of this proposal-model for food waste management will involve many people from different areas, whereby a large group of citizens will have a positive benefit from the overall process.
Namely, from the aspect of food waste production/recycling, a wide range of scientific research and promotion of Macedonian science will be enabled. Furthermore, when distributing the final products, new jobs will be created for technical staff. Also, the assortment of the textile industry will be enriched with innovative products, and farmers will be offered quality compost that will increase the yield and quality of the products.
By purchasing the new products, citizens will be able to enjoy completely natural and safe products that will be extremely important for their health.
What is particularly important to note is that people with atypical development will be able to be included in the production of textile fiber products (with leather-like properties), where they will be able to show their creativity, feel valuable and significant for the whole society. Furthermore, their products will be able to be exhibited at various fairs, exhibitions and similar events, with which this category of citizens will have the opportunity to be the first to present the innovation of food waste processing.
Implementing this change in food waste management policy will have a huge impact on the overall economy in Macedonia. The production of compost will satisfy part of the farmers' needs for fertilizers, which will improve soil fertility, increase the percentage of organic matter, which has a long-term positive impact on agricultural production. Furthermore, with the production of a new type of textile material (with leather-like properties), significant progress will be achieved in the Macedonian textile industry (a large number of textile factories have been closed in the past ten years), and with the fact that it is an innovative idea that does not exist in other countries, the possibility of increased interest from foreign countries, export and thus an increased volume of work opens up. All this leads to the creation of new jobs, increasing interest in the agricultural sector and promotion of North Macedonia. In other words, all this will give a positive outcome for a large number of farmers in primary agricultural production, for the employees in the textile industry, an opportunity opens up to create an innovative center that will process food waste, and here microbiologists, agricultural and textile engineers will be employed, which will reduce unemployment (especially for highly qualified staff) in North Macedonia.
Given the fact that the mentioned concept is only a proposal and an idea with clear guidelines for its implementation, at this stage no other persons have been involved in the overall process.
Once the implementation of this idea is started, participants from several fields will be involved (microbiologist, agricultural engineer, manual workers, drivers, etc.).
This process is planned to be initiated by a multidisciplinary team from several areas, namely:
- microbiologist - a person who will manage the microbiological processes for the production of textile fibers
- agricultural engineer - a person who will manage the composting process
- people with atypical development - who will have the opportunity to show their creativity by designing different creations from the newly produced textile material (with leather-like properties)
- people who will perform manual activities such as transporting food waste to collection points, transporting produced compost to farmers, transporting part of textile fibers to industrial centers.
- PR manager - a person who will promote the innovative products obtained through this circular economy process.
Considering the fact that in North Macedonia there is no concept for food waste management, the proposed circular economy model represents an innovative solution to the stated problem. The traditional side of the concept is the production of compost, while the innovative aspect is the production of textile fibers using fungus - a product that does not exist in North Macedonia until now.
There are no restrictions and obstacles for implementing this circular economy model in food waste management. The idea is easily applicable, and certain variations can be made only in terms of financing and providing the necessary resources. None of the materials/equipment required are problematic to procure. It is also not about expensive and exclusive materials. On the other hand, this represents an excellent opportunity for establishing cooperation between the central government, local government, industry and individual producers/farmers from North Macedonia. This model of circular economy has not been applied in North Macedonia and beyond. The positive thing is that this idea can easily be adapted and applied in any other country in the world that has the same problem with too much food waste ending up in landfills.
Through the described model of local solution to the problem of food waste, significant action can be taken at the global level. The global food waste as of 2021 is 17% of the global food products available for retail. Developed countries have much larger amounts of food waste annually, all of which can be recycled and used to create new products. In a simple way, natural waste can be safely converted for new use, without causing any pollution or additional damage to natural cycles and nature in general. The fact that each phase of the above concept can be easily and simply applied and implemented in any territory around the world makes this idea an even greater global solution to food waste. The products that will be further created from the obtained textile fibers can be adapted and created based on the traditional values of the country where this process of circular economy is realized. With that, such an innovative product acquires a cultural significance and a method of promotion of the country's traditional values.
On the other hand, the resulting compost can influence the increase of organic production of vegetables and fruits that are characteristic of the given climate/area. Furthermore, such organic products are an excellent promotion for the agricultural sector of that country.
