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FAO and EU Partnership

  Sri Lanka

September 2024 -  August 2027

GCP/SRL/085/EC


 

Circular Economy in the Food Sector (CIRCULAR)

CIRCULAR translates evidence and knowledge on solutions to food loss, food waste and plastic waste into actionable, measurable outcomes that improve food security, livelihoods, and environmental resilience. Project targets include new circular business clusters that achieve scalability through socio-technological solutions and support for behavioral change through youth-led initiatives, digital tools, and multi-actor partnerships.

CIRCULAR aims to reduce food loss and waste, promote alternatives to single-use plastics, and embed circular economy practices in education, policy, and business. Led by the European Union Delegation and the Government of Sri Lanka, the project is implemented by FAO, Expertise France (EF), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The project supports both mitigation and adaptation commitments in the waste and agriculture sectors under Sri Lanka’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) 3.0 (2026–2035) that were published in September 2025.

Under FAO’s component of the project, CIRCULAR works to:

  1. Reduce food loss and waste in selected supply chains (e.g. vegetables, fisheries) and in the hospitality sector (HoReCa);
  2. Promote and scale availability and adoption of alternatives to plastics in food and agriculture;
  3. Mainstream circular economy principles into education, business practice, and policymaking. 

FAO supports these goals by providing technical expertise, normative guidance, and facilitation of multi-actor processes, including:

  • Food loss and waste reduction: FAO contributes evidence-based methodologies for measuring and reducing food losses across value chains such as poultry, banana, rice and fish, vegetables (beetroot, cabbage, carrot and leeks) and potato.
  • Policy support: FAO provides evidence-based guidance for prevention of food waste through recovery and redistribution for direct human consumption and the adoption of alternatives to plastics by value chain actors and final consumers.
  • Capacity development: FAO designs guidelines such as “Safe and Nutritious Food for Recovery and Redistribution” in Sinhala, Tamil, and English, to strengthen the skills of HoReCa actors and communities. These tools are tailored for youth, women, and professionals, thereby embedding Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in capacity development. 
  • Partnership convening: FAO leverages its neutral platform to bring together ministries, private sector associations, universities, and development partners to co-create and accelerate scalable solutions.