sustainability
‘One Health’ and the role of science for better policy
As Europe faces overlapping challenges - from public health threats to biodiversity loss and environmental degradation - the need for integrated, evidence-based policymaking has never been clearer. The ‘One Health’ concept, which recognises the interconnection between human, animal and environmental health is now increasingly influencing the way policy is shaped. ‘One Health’ is gaining significant ...
How to address water scarcity in the EU? Interview with STOA study author Maria Kottari
The EU is facing major challenges with increasing water scarcity. That said, there is also some good news: water consumption by households has been decreasing over the last years. This is what green transition and innovation expert Dr. Maria Kottari has found. She authored a new study commissioned by the European Parliament’s Panel on the ...
The circular economy in your pocket – interview with Prof. Dr. Bernd Friedrich on novel recycling technologies
Prof. Dr. Bernd Friedrich is the director of the Metallurgical Process Engineering and Metal Recycling at the Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) Aachen in Germany, a leading research centre for green metallurgy. Could you please describe your research and institution? Bernd Friedrich: Our institute at RWTH Aachen is, I would say, one of the biggest institutes ...
A new green process for critical raw materials – interview with Dr. Eva Lain on green hydrometallurgy
Dr. Eva Lain is the founder and CEO of Lain Tech, a company based in Madrid (Spain), implementing new technologies in the raw materials sector. What is your company about? Eva Lain: Lain Tech is a young company founded in 2019 working on R&D and industrial implementation of novel technologies, providing cutting edge solutions in ...
Turning the tables on EU food waste
Millions of tonnes of food are wasted in the EU each year. This means that food systems are causing damage to the climate and environment without even fulfilling their function of nourishing people. Adopting holistic approaches promoting greater circularity and behavioural shifts is essential to cut the waste. One thing many European countries share is ...
Carolina Peñalva Lapuente on innovations for tackling food waste
Food and technology scientist Carolina Peñalva Lapuente works at Aitiip Centro Tecnológico in Zaragoza, Spain. She is the project coordinator of the Horizon 2020 funded SISTERS project. This projects works on systemic innovations for a sustainable reduction of European food waste. Why is food waste an issue in Europe? Carolina Peñalva Lapuente: In the EU, ...
Prajal Pradhan on food loss and waste: ‘Our current food systems are broken’
Dr Prajal Pradhan is an expert in climate change, food systems, and sustainable development goals. He is an assistant professor at the University of Groningen (the Netherlands) and a visiting senior scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (Germany). You were a lead author of the IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and ...
Clara Cicatiello on innovations for tackling food waste
Clara Cicatiello is an assistant professor of agricultural economics at the University of Tuscia, Italy. Her research covers the sustainability of food systems and the prevention of food loss and waste in food supply chains. You are the coordinator of the EU-funded LOWINFOOD project, which aims to reduce food waste. How will the project achieve ...