Future Opportunities for Consumers to Reduce Food Waste

On 14 April 2016, the Cofresco Forum’s 10th Round Table under the motto “Food Preservation and Sustainability at Home – Future Opportunities for Consumers to Reduce Food Waste” will focus on the topics of keeping food fresh and sustainability in the household. Lectures given by international experts will provide a comprehensive overview of current research.

In addition, a trip to the Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonosis (RIZ) opened in 2014 will offer a first-hand opportunity to learn about research on preventing and combating the transmission of pathogens to food.

Every fifth basket of food from the supermarket ends up in the rubbish bin!
A lack of knowledge about the right way to store food in the household is chiefly responsible for the fact that the actual quantity of waste far exceeds consumer estimates.

What role can packaging play in the preservation of healthy and safe food? What techniques and materials can also be used by consumers in their everyday lives? Are there eco-friendly solutions that can reduce the amount of waste?

Answers and suggestions regarding these questions will be provided at the 10th Cofresco Forum Round Table at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Germany, on 14 April 2016.

Experts will be holding talks on the following topics:

• How does consumer behaviour influence food quality and safety?
• What are the risks and benefits of silver and silver coatings for food films?
• What are the developments in packaging for fresh produce?
• How can cold plasma be used to combat noroviruses?
• How can packaging help avoid food waste? – An overview.

The fight against unnecessary waste is closely linked to the subject of food safety. After all, our knowledge about preventing or combating threats helps keep food fit for consumption longer, thereby reducing the necessity to throw it away. In the practical sessions of the Round Table, there will therefore be insights and background knowledge on pathogens that can be transmitted via food.

Experts from the University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover (Tierärztliche Hochschule) will give participants a tour of the Research Center for Emerging Infections and Zoonosis (RIZ), which was opened in 2014. They will provide an insight into the study of zoonoses, i.e. infectious diseases which can be transmitted to humans from animals, and vice versa. A special feature of the centre is its interdisciplinary approach which brings together researchers from different areas in order to discover new solutions.

After the tour, participants will have the opportunity to network with speakers and other attendees during a casual get-together.

Participation in the Round Table is free. The conference language is English.

The registration deadline is 4 April 2016.

Registration forms and further information on the Round Table are available at http://www.cofresco.de/en/sites/forum.html

http://Registration forms and further information on the Round Table are available at http://www.cofresco.de/en/sites/forum.html