Press Release September 2005:

SAFEWASTES turns industrial organic waste into healthy feed

The food industry’s processing of fruit, vegetables and plants produces millions of tons of industrial organic waste, by-products and residues annually. Today’s technology for reusing these industrial waste materials is very limited, and industry mostly disposes of them through composting or incineration, costing millions of euros and contributing to environmental problems. This organic waste should be put to better use. The EU-funded project SAFEWASTES combines 12 participants from seven countries who are working to develop innovative biotechnology for processing and purifying organic material from the food and plant-based-additive industries. The object is to recover valuable compounds for use in food and feed additives with significant health benefits for animals and human beings.

The project – the goals

The 36-month SAFEWASTES project groups academic staff and food industry SMEs with expertise in upgrading industrial organic wastes, biochemistry and phytochemistry, nutrition, physiology, bacteriology, functional genomics, feed technology and manufacturing as well as environmental protection. One key project aim is to develop organic feed additives to replace in-feed antibiotics, which the European Union plans to phase out in 2006. “We will develop new technologies and recycling models on the basis of selected organic waste. First sources for our tests are artichockes, milk thistle and thyme extracts”, explains project leader Dr. Chlodwig Franz from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Austria. “We will conduct our studies in vitro as well as in vivo. This is also why we are working closely together with partners from the industry. We want to prove that the recycling of organic waste is not only important for the health of humans and animals, but also reduces ecological damage and is cost-effective”, says Prof. Franz.

Sustainability

SAFEWASTES centres food quality and safety. Healthy livestock (no feeding of antibiotics) produces high-class meat and the quality standards are being guaranteed through ongoing inspections, labelling and origin.

The recycling of organic waste also shows positive environmental impacts: - Up to 100% of industrial organic waste will be utilised into novel high added value products. - Reduction of methane which is produced through the composting of organic waste and through animal digestion. - Reduction of the use of antibiotics, i.e. no remainder in food and no resistance of humans and animals towards anitbiotics. “Dialogue with the public is very important for us. Through constant information and communication we will keep the public up-to-date on relevant research results”, says Dr. Franz and emphasises: “SAFEWASTES is a Europe-wide project. The project’s focus is on the well-being of humans and animals and does not only concern science and economy.” SAFEWASTES will help food manufacturers employ scientific approaches to meet consumer demands for safer, higher quality food. By providing new, natural and functional products that improve animal welfare and lead to better food products, the project boosts European competitiveness.