PA 2: Karakter Ernte: Reuse of surplus vegetables in restaurants
Austria has a good agricultural supply, fruits and vegetables are produced in a very good quality. However, not all the harvested crops are used which could be used for human nutrition. This situation has unacceptable ecologically, economically as well as socially effects.
With the project Karakter Ernte we want to pay close attention to the currently ignored part of production and harvest and make it usable for human nutrition. Our goal is to use Karakter Ernte, which means eat these vegetables and reduce food waste in agriculture.
With the project Karakter Ernte we want to pay close attention to the currently ignored part of production and harvest and make it usable for human nutrition. Our goal is to use Karakter Ernte, which means eat these vegetables and reduce food waste in agriculture.
Definition Karakter Ernte |
Project in operation
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Karakter Ernte is locally produced, flawless vegetables (if available also fruit), which does not meet the market requirements or short term are available in excess and therefore disposed of unused.
Karakter Ernte in Food Service
Farmers market their entire produce, including shares that were previously difficult to market. Gastronomes buy and process the entire harvest, they are open and ready to use their skills to bring the entire harvest to the plate. Through these cooperations larger shares of regional production can be used.
After a successful first season 2017/2018, the new season was started in spring of 2018 by publishing the Initiative Karakter Ernte. |
Based on the results of the feasibility study the Pilot Action Karakter Ernte was implemented. In the area of Innsbruck potential partners from primary production, food service and gastronomy were interviewed to conduct the potential and requirements on unsold vegetables. The interest to use these products was shown and possible ideas were defined.
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The implementation in detail:
Parallel to the implementation of the first idea - the sale of Karakter Ernte in the Food Service Sector - other ideas were pursued, such as the development of products that are produced from Karakter Ernte or direct marketing to the consumer. These approaches are about to be implemented.
- An assortment list of unsold but legally compliant vegetables is weekly created. These products are offered by different farmers.
- The assortment list is sent by email. The entire order and delivery system is organised by a regional green grocer.
- Commercial kitchens, gastronomes can buy regularly the products to use them in their kitchen.
- Consumers are informed by the initiative directly or by the gastronomes about the Initiative Karakter Ernte and introduced to the issue.
Parallel to the implementation of the first idea - the sale of Karakter Ernte in the Food Service Sector - other ideas were pursued, such as the development of products that are produced from Karakter Ernte or direct marketing to the consumer. These approaches are about to be implemented.
Karakter Ernte from whom, for whom?
- Farmers, who have Karakter Ernte in the short or long term and who want to market them
- Retailers, who offer the entire harvest in their assortment
- Anyone, who uses food and wants to process the entire harvest in their kitchens
- Food processing businesses, who refine the entire harvest to new products
- Gastronomes, who process the entire harvest in their kitchen
- Consumers, who cook the entire harvest in their household
- Politics, interest and sectoral organizations that support and promote the initiative
Cooperation partners
- Chamber of agriculture Tyrol
- Tyrolean Vegetable Farmer´s Association
- Chamber of economics Tyrol
Aim of this pilot action
… the use of the entire harvest:
- Reduction of food waste
- The use of the entire harvest (instead of the partial disposal) reduces food waste in agriculture and thus negative environmental effects (land consumption, energy use in production, over-fertilization, groundwater, soil diseases, ...).
- Motivate interested persons to imitate
- The current cooperation partners show the quality and possibilities of the entire harvest, which motivates other people to do so.
- Awareness and higher acceptance of the Karakter Ernte
- Consumers get to know and appreciate the quality of the entire harvest, which will increase demand and use.
- Increase of added value in regional agriculture
- By marketing a larger share of their own produce, added value is increased in regional agriculture.
Results and environmental benefits
About 6 tonnes of vegetables were sold by the initiative during the two seasons with 8 farmers and 1 greengrocer involved. Over 20 kitchens bought and used the produce one time or even regularly.
The function of the pilot action is to market the otherwise lost agricultural produce. Not all fruits and vegetables were included in the assessment. Based on the mass distributed Karakter Ernte products potatoes, carrots and chinese cabbage were chosen for the assessment. The functional unit is 1 tonne of fruit and vegetables distributed that would otherwise be discarded. In line with the goal and scope of the study, to compare the pilot action scenario with a baseline scenario, we assume that agricultural produce supplied through the pilot action is displacing other agricultural crops.
Previous to the implementation of the pilot action, products were spread on fields with a solid manure spreader. Hence nutrients removed by the harvest were returned to the field and provide nutrients to the next crop.
Previous to the implementation of the pilot action, products were spread on fields with a solid manure spreader. Hence nutrients removed by the harvest were returned to the field and provide nutrients to the next crop.
Figure 1: A system overview of pilot action of pilot action 2 Karakter Ernte
840 t CO2 emissions saved in pilot action 2
Figure 2 shows the results of the pilot action ‘Karakter Ernte’. All assessed crops achieved environmental benefits for the assessed impact categories. Emissions of the pilot action are relatively small for all crops and impact categories. Environmental impacts of the pilot action are associated to the transport of otherwise discarded fruit and vegetables to the wholesaler. The environmental impacts for the pilot action are the same between crops as transport distances and assumptions are the same.
For all impact categories the substituted product was associated with a substantial saving of emissions. This is based on the assumption that ‘Karakter Ernte’ crops replace the production of other crops, hence emissions of potato, carrot and Chinese cabbage production are avoided. For most impact categories potatoes have the highest impact followed by carrot and Chinese cabbage.
Impacts associated to the baseline system are similar between crops, differences can be observed between impact categories. Baseline emission refer to the impacts and benefits associated with crops returned to the fields (before the pilot action).
For the global warming potential and land use, emissions associated to the baseline system are close to zero. For eutrophication the baseline system emissions are due to the eutrophication potential of crops remaining in the field. For acidification potential and water impacts associated with the land spread crops were zero while benefits where achieved through the displacement of mineral fertiliser.
For all impact categories the substituted product was associated with a substantial saving of emissions. This is based on the assumption that ‘Karakter Ernte’ crops replace the production of other crops, hence emissions of potato, carrot and Chinese cabbage production are avoided. For most impact categories potatoes have the highest impact followed by carrot and Chinese cabbage.
Impacts associated to the baseline system are similar between crops, differences can be observed between impact categories. Baseline emission refer to the impacts and benefits associated with crops returned to the fields (before the pilot action).
For the global warming potential and land use, emissions associated to the baseline system are close to zero. For eutrophication the baseline system emissions are due to the eutrophication potential of crops remaining in the field. For acidification potential and water impacts associated with the land spread crops were zero while benefits where achieved through the displacement of mineral fertiliser.
Figure 2 Life cycle impact assessment results PA2 processing
Conclusion
During two seasons, the Initiative Karakter Ernte has shown how great the interest of the cooperation partners is. Although the implementation and changeover to Karakter Ernte is not easy due to routine and day-to-day business, there is growing awareness and willingness to take part in the initiative and to use the entire harvest together.
Therefore, the project should continue even after completion of the EU project STREFOWA:
Therefore, the project should continue even after completion of the EU project STREFOWA:
- Expansion and strengthening of the ordering system by increasing the number of buyers and the quantities purchased
- Expansion of the project by involving additional greengrocers
- Expansion of the ordering system to serve consumers
- Strengthening and support the project through targeted external communication
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