28 - 30 August 2017
Santo Domingo, República Dominicana

Guided by the Sustainable Development Agenda (SDG 12, indicator 12.3) and the FSN CELAC Plan (Action Line 3, Pillar 1), the FAO Strategic Program on Efficient and Inclusive Food Systems supports the countries of the region to strengthen their capacities in the prevention and reduction of Food Losses and Waste (FLW).

For the Dominican Republic, this agenda is relevant since it has allowed the consolidation of a Dominican Committee on Food Loss and Waste, made up of various actors such as the Ministry of Agriculture, the Vice Presidency of the Republic, FAO, Pro Consumidor, Grupo Ramos, Santo Domingo’s Food Bank, Nestlé, among others. In this regard, it has been sought to highlight the involvement of government authorities in the Committee, with the objective that their participation may influence the formulation of public policies and action plans aimed at preventing losses and waste in the country. On the other hand, the participation of the private sector, academia and civil society has been permanent, which aim to coordinate their efforts in the reduction of FLW on various fronts related to the food security and nutrition.

Within the framework of the National Committee, metropolitan wholesale food markets have been visualized as strategic points for the management of FLW. Recent data estimates that 24,026 pounds of fruit and vegetables are wasted in the marketing phase on a weekly basis. The Santo Domingo Food Wholesale Market - Mercadom, the second most important market in the country, covers the Greater Santo Domingo metropolitan area, where 40% of the country's population is concentrated around 4 million inhabitants. Around 1,249,352 units of food, mainly fruits and vegetables are wasted per year. (Mercadom, 2017)

Seeking solutions to this problem, the National FLW Committee in partnership with FAO, the INTEC University of Santo Domingo and the Solidarity Program of the Vice Presidency of the Republic work on the design and development of a socio-productive entrepreneurship initiative for the reuse of food waste, which, even in optimum conditions, are discarded by producers in that market. This action will involve 5 regions within Santo Domingo Oeste and 23 communities or neighborhoods adjacent to the Mercadom. The use of these surpluses, the possibility of transforming them into new products, offers an opportunity for linking diverse groups, opening up job opportunities and generating income, as well as rescue / protect / innovate from local traditions, from losses to solutions.

In order to advance in a proposal of social innovation such as the one proposed, and seeking to expand from the territorial to the national level, the National Committee and its partners have identified the need to start with a seminar, to harmonize concepts, where based on successful experiences in FLW reduction and local knowledge, a favorable environment for the formation of policies linked to social innovation and the sustainability of the food system can be built.

In that sense, seeking to strengthen national actions, the seminar will be held, which will involve the participation and leadership of the Gastromotiva movement from Brazil, as well as participants linked to the national FLW initiatives of Colombia and Jamaica.

GOALS

• Provide tools for the promotion and implementation of social innovation initiatives linked to the reuse of FLW and its management in the marketing sector, based on the experience of the Gastromotive movement in Brazil.
• Facilitate the exchange of experiences and knowledge among community leaders from the Dominican Republic, Colombia and Jamaica, as well as national committees and other public and private sectors.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Strengthened capacities of community leaders and national teams from Dominican Republic, Colombia and Jamaica on promotion of models of social innovation from the reuse of production and marketing surpluses, based on Gastromotiva's experience in Brazil.

Sharing experiences and cooperation established between the national committees of the project countries.

METHODOLOGY

The seminar will be held in three sessions:  

Session I: "Moving from Losses to Solutions", which will feature presentations and talks (Davos style) on international experiences, general concepts and national advances in social innovation and the prevention and reduction of FLW from members of the national FLW committee, guests from Colombia, and Jamaica, and other guests from various sectors. The session will end with an open discussion on opportunities and challenges for the prevention of FLW. Duration: half a day and will be open to the public.

Session II: "Taking advantage of surplus, opening opportunities" will be led by 2 Gastromotiva trainers and chefs linked to the National FLW Committee. This session is addressed to community leaders and technicians of the social program of the Vice Presidency of the Republic, students and members of the FLW Committee. Max capacity: 35 people.

This activity is divided into:

• Theoretical component (2 hours) with talks about basic contents in food processing, food safety, logistics. An exercise of critical points will be performed based on the concepts developed.
• Practical component (4 hours) of preparation of recipes, use of recovered foods, practical advice. 2 groups of max 30 people. 2 hours each

Session III: Field trip to the Santo Domingo Abasto Market - MERCADOM, the Food Bank and the Los Alcarrizos, El Higuero, Batey Yacot, La cuaba, Batey Palamara and La Guayiga communities linked to the initiative of the National PDA Committee. Duration: 6 hours)