Sheffield Hallam to host food waste debate for regional businesses

20th June 2016

Sheffield Hallam University is hosting a debate around food waste and the impact on businesses, communities and the economy.

Cutting edge researchers and leading academics are to join the Finding Value in Food Waste event, being held at the University on Wednesday 29 June. Hallam's National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering is co-sponsoring the event with Centre director Dr Martin Howarth taking part in the panel discussion. Estimates suggest five million tonnes of food is wasted by manufacturers and retailers every year in the UK, with companies paying premiums to incinerate it or send it to landfill. But in many cases it can be repurposed, realising value and creating new, often high-worth revenue streams. Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the best places in the world for innovation on biowastes, including food waste, with its outstanding combination of bio-based research, industry and agriculture. Dr Howarth said: "Food waste is a massive issue for those in the industry and it's important that the current problem is tackled. As well as wasting food, there is also a waste of energy in the preparation of many foods which can also be recycled and reused. "This debate will give regional businesses the chance to speak with industry experts and explore ways of tackling the problem together." The centre is a hub for collaboration, delivering a programme of research and development in partnership with business, academia and other centres of expertise from across the sector. The Centre is working with employers on innovations such as biodegradable packaging, reducing food wastage during the manufacturing process and recovering heat waste in commercial kitchens. The world-class Centre aims to support industry growth through helping the sector to improve manufacturing capability, provide engineering solutions for energy and waste efficiencies, deliver packaging innovations through leading-edge technology and skills solutions to inspire the next generation of food engineers. For more information on the event, including information on attending, please visit www.insidermedia.com/event/finding-value-in-food-waste-breakfast-2016