The CHORIZO project focuses on understanding how social norms influence behavior and food waste generation, using this knowledge to improve decision-making and engagement across the food chain. ZeroW, on the other hand, drives systemic innovations to reduce food loss and waste through new tools, technologies, and collaborative approaches. Together, the projects provide both the social insights and the practical innovations needed to move Europe closer to a zero-food waste future, thereby complementing each other in their approaches to the same challenge.

The day featured a mix of plenary talks, breakout sessions, and demonstrations of SILL innovations, covering a wide range of themes. Among the sessions of the day were demonstrations of some of the concrete innovations developed in the ZeroW and CHORIZO projects. One such example is the ZeroW FLW Dataspace, a digital platform that enables smarter, data-driven collaboration across the food value chain. By facilitating information exchange between producers, retailers, policymakers, and researchers, the dataspace makes it possible to identify inefficiencies, optimise processes, and ultimately reduce food waste at multiple stages.

The conference also showcased creative approaches to education and awareness-raising. A set of specially designed educational board games captured attention by showing how schoolchildren can learn about food loss and waste in a fun, hands-on way. These tools illustrate how even at a young age, consumers can be inspired to think critically about the value of food and the consequences of waste.

Another area of focus was packaging and date-marking innovations, which are proving to be powerful tools for reducing waste. Smarter labelling can help consumers better understand shelf life and distinguish between “use by” and “best before” dates, while advanced packaging technologies extend freshness and cut down on unnecessary disposal of still-edible products.

Finally, one session introduced a meal planning app that generates personalised recipe lists and grocery shopping plans. By tailoring these lists to the exact number of people and required ingredients, the models help households avoid overbuying and ensure that the food they purchase is used efficiently.

We would like to thank everyone involved in creating the conference and everyone who participated either online or in person.