Recycling of Food

The primary objective of this project was to explore how the strategic partnership between Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Spinneys, and Circa Biotech has effectively enabled Spinneys to divert its food waste from landfills. Through innovative use of biotechnology involving black soldier fly larvae, converting organic waste into valuable agricultural products, significantly reducing the environmental impact of landfill use while supporting sustainable agriculture practices in the UAE.

Food Waste

his case study explores the innovative partnership between Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Spinneys, and Circa Biotech, focusing on their collaborative efforts to tackle food waste and promote sustainable agriculture in Abu Dhabi. By harnessing Circa Biotech’s biotechnological capabilities to convert organic waste into valuable agricultural products using black soldier fly larvae, this alliance aims to significantly reduce food waste while producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), high-quality animal feed, and organic fertilizers. The initiative began with a successful six-month trial at select Spinneys stores, which achieved a remarkable 54% reduction in food waste diverted to landfills. Encouraged by these results, the program was expanded to include all Spinneys locations across Abu Dhabi. This strategic expansion addresses the pressing issue of food waste and contributes to the UAE’s broader sustainability goals by enhancing resource efficiency and fostering a circular economy.

Transforming Waste into Wealth: The Strategic Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture in Abu Dhabi

Stakeholders Involved: The stakeholders involved in the partnership include: Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA): As a governmental body, ADAFSA regulates and supports agriculture and food safety practices in Abu Dhabi. They are crucial in facilitating and endorsing sustainable agricultural practices within the region. Spinneys: A leading supermarket chain in the UAE, Spinneys is the source of the organic waste used in the project. They are key operational stakeholders, providing the organic material necessary for conversion into valuable products and implementing sustainability practices within their business operations. Circa Biotech: This UAE-based biotech startup specializes in converting organic waste into sustainable products using black soldier fly larvae. They are this partnership’s technological and process innovators responsible for converting waste into usable products such as animal feed, organic fertilizers, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Approach/Methods: We address the problem of food waste management and transform it into sustainable resources, the partnership between ADAFSA, Spinneys, and Circa Biotech employed a series of innovative methods and strategies: Black Soldier Fly Larvae Biotechnology: The core technology involves using black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) to process organic waste. The larvae are fed organic waste from Spinneys stores, which they rapidly convert into biomass. This process not only diverts waste from landfills but produces high-quality protein and other byproducts. Integration into Retail Operations: Spinneys integrated store waste collection protocols to effectively segregate organic waste. This waste is then transported to Circa Biotech’s processing facilities, ensuring a steady supply of raw material for the BSFL. Scalable Processing Facilities: Circa Biotech developed scalable processing facilities capable of handling the volume of waste generated by all Spinneys stores in Abu Dhabi. These facilities are equipped with the necessary technology to manage and optimize the lifecycle of BSFL and the conversion process. Product Development and Utilization: The biomass produced by the larvae is processed into several products: – Animal Feed: The protein-rich larvae are dried and processed into feed for livestock and aquaculture. – Organic Fertilizers: The frass (waste produced by larvae) is processed into high-quality organic fertilizers. – Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): Fats extracted from the larvae are further processed into biofuel. Continuous Monitoring and Optimization: The operation includes constantly optimizing larvae growth conditions, waste processing rates, and product quality to ensure the process’s efficiency and efficacy. Stakeholder Engagement and Education: The partnership focuses on educating other stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, other businesses, and the community, about the benefits of this innovative waste management solution. Compliance and Sustainability Reporting: The partnership adheres to environmental regulations and practices sustainable reporting to measure the impact and effectiveness of its operations, which helps refine processes and scale the model. These strategies collectively form a comprehensive approach to transforming organic waste into valuable, sustainable products, thereby addressing environmental concerns and creating economic value.

Outcomes/Results: The strategic partnership between Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Spinneys, and Circa Biotech yielded significant measurable outcomes that highlight the success of their sustainable waste management initiative: Reduction in Food Waste: During the initial six-month trial at select Spinneys stores, the partnership successfully reduced food waste sent to landfills by 54%. This substantial reduction demonstrates the efficacy of the implemented waste diversion strategy. Production of Sustainable Products: Animal Feed: The project converted significant amounts of organic waste into high-quality, protein-rich animal feed, supporting sustainable livestock and aquaculture practices. Organic Fertilizers: A considerable volume of organic waste was transformed into nutrient-rich organic fertilizers, promoting healthier agricultural practices. Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): The initiative also produced SAF, which contributes to reducing carbon emissions in the aviation industry. Environmental Impact: Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions: By diverting organic waste from landfills, which would decompose anaerobically and produce methane, the project significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions, directly supporting efforts to combat climate change. Enhanced Resource Efficiency: The conversion of waste into multiple valuable products demonstrated an effective resource efficiency model, a cornerstone of sustainable environmental management. Scalability and Expansion: Following the successful trial, the initiative was expanded to include all Spinneys stores across Abu Dhabi, further amplifying its impact and showcasing the solution’s scalability. Stakeholder Engagement: The project fostered greater awareness and engagement among stakeholders, including consumers, businesses, and regulatory bodies, about the benefits of innovative waste management solutions and the importance of sustainability. Recognition and Validation: The initiative’s success validated the technologies and strategies employed and positioned the partners as leaders in sustainability and innovation in the region. These outcomes underscore the partnership’s success in addressing the pressing issue of food waste, demonstrating significant environmental benefits, and providing scalable, replicable models for sustainable waste management and resource utilization.

Challenges Faced: During the implementation of the strategic partnership between ADAFSA, Spinneys, and Circa Biotech, several challenges and obstacles were encountered. These challenges were critical to address to ensure the success and sustainability of the initiative. Here’s how they were tackled: Logistical Challenges: Managing the logistics of collecting and transporting organic waste from multiple Spinneys stores to Circa Biotech’s processing facility posed significant challenges. These were addressed by implementing a streamlined logistics system, optimized routing, and scheduling to minimize transportation costs and time and ensure the waste was processed efficiently. Technological Adaptation: Adapting the black soldier fly larvae technology to handle varying types and quantities of organic waste required continual adjustments. Circa Biotech responded by investing in research and development to enhance the resilience and efficiency of their bioprocessing methods, allowing for flexible and scalable waste processing. Regulatory Compliance: Navigating the complex regulatory environment related to waste management and product safety was challenging. The partners worked closely with regulatory bodies to ensure full compliance with all applicable regulations and standards. This involved regular audits, reporting, and engagement with regulatory authorities to align the project’s operations with environmental and safety regulations. Public Perception and Stakeholder Buy-In: Initially, some stakeholders were skeptical about the feasibility and safety of converting organic waste into animal feed and other products. The partnership addressed this by conducting transparent, open communication campaigns and educational workshops to demonstrate the safety, benefits, and science behind their processes. This helped to build trust and acceptance within the community and among other stakeholders. Economic Viability: Given the costs associated with advanced biotechnological processes and logistics, ensuring the operation’s economic sustainability was challenging. The partners focused on optimizing operations to reduce costs, explored various revenue models, and secured financial incentives and support from governmental and environmental bodies to enhance the project’s economic viability. Scalability Issues: As the project expanded to include all Spinneys stores, scaling the processing capacity while maintaining efficiency and product quality was challenging. Continuous improvements in technology, facilities, and human resources were made to scale up the operations effectively without compromising the system’s integrity. By effectively addressing these challenges, the partnership not only ensured the initiative’s smooth running but also set a precedent for how similar challenges could be managed in future sustainability projects.

Future Plans: The strategic partnership between the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), Spinneys, and Circa Biotech has laid a solid foundation for future sustainability initiatives. Here are some of the plans related to the expansion and enhancement of this successful project: 1. Expansion to Other Regions and Stores: Building on the success in Abu Dhabi, there are plans to extend the waste-to-resource program to other emirates and potentially to other countries in the region. This expansion aims to replicate the successful model in different demographic and geographic contexts, scaling the initiative’s impact. 2. Technology Enhancement: Circa Biotech plans to continue investing in research and development to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the black soldier fly larvae technology. This includes improving the larvae’s waste processing capabilities and optimizing the production processes for the derived products like SAF, animal feed, and organic fertilizers. 3. Product Diversification: In response to the successful creation of multiple valuable products from organic waste, plans are underway to explore additional product lines. For example, they are refining the processes for producing more specialized animal feed or expanding the range of organic fertilizers to suit different crops and agricultural needs. 4. Strengthening Supply Chains: Efforts are underway to strengthen and streamline the supply chains from waste collection to product distribution. This includes enhancing logistic networks, building stronger partnerships with waste providers and product buyers, and implementing advanced supply chain management technologies. 5. Sustainability Certification and Compliance: Plans include pursuing additional sustainability certifications for the processes and products, enhancing the marketability and consumer trust in the products. Compliance with emerging environmental regulations will also be a focus to ensure that the operations remain at the forefront of regulatory adherence. These plans are designed to enhance the scope and impact of the current project and ensure that the initiative remains a leading example of innovative environmental sustainability practices.

Food Made Good Standard

The Food Made Good Standard is the world’s largest sustainability certification designed for food and beverage businesses including restaurants, caterers, bars, cafés and hotels.  Tailored for the sector it assesses behaviour, measures action, celebrates progress and provides a customised roadmap for improvement.    With a holistic approach that includes every aspect of what sustainability means in today’s environment, the Standard is rooted in practical actions that any UAE food service business can take, providing clear direction, support and – ultimately – a respected, recognized third party certification that customers and stakeholders can trust.    Why is this important for the UAE hospitality and restaurant industry?  The food and beverage industries behind the global food system, are directly responsible for 30% of global GHG emissions.  The hospitality industry contributes significantly to this figure and in the UAE, consider the vital role that we play:  AED6 billion worth of food is wasted annually in the UAE  The UAE hospitality sector employs 1 in 10 people and 60% are women 80% – 90% of all food consumed in the UAE is imported  UAE has one of the lowest water supplies in the region and >80% of our agriculture uses groundwater  The UAE has a national strategy to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030 The Food Made Good Standard is one of the easiest ways to access a more sustainable journey.  Each step counts and there is no better time to begin than today.   

ESG Support & Aligning to the SDGs

Thriving Solutions helps institutions realize the potential positive impact they can achieve by aligning to the Global Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on programs related to the water-food-energy-climate nexus. We know that not all SDGs relate to all businesses but we have the knowledge to find the appropriate SDG targets, to incorporate within each individual business model and culture. Embracing a sustainable path that considers how to operate and create value within the economic, social and natural ecosystem that the institution operates in, is a necessity that institutions can no longer forego. In addition to the social, environmental and economic contributions, these initiatives can reduce costs, improve employee and customer satisfaction, enhance brand image, improve competitive advantage and generate new business opportunities.  The sustainability strategy has the means to impact the bottom line and maximize economic benefits while improving the environment and local community in a transparent manner.  It can also include consistent long-term advisory support to oversee both the creation and implementation of the sustainability strategy. Sustainability related services include but are not limited to: Develop strategic sustainability plans / strategies. Formulate and identify KPIs. Improve community involvement and volunteer programs (society). Promote local partnerships with institutions / schools / academia / government / NGOs to achieve society related goals. Develop communication strategy to build relationships with key sustainable stakeholders. Preparing necessary documents and reporting in a transparent manner.

Communicating Sustainability Effectively

Thriving Solutions’ interventions are focused on formulating behavioral change and communication strategies, designing and leading programs and campaigns that aim to change policies and laws, build alliances around key initiatives, and change specific perceptions and behaviors of targeted groups.  In doing so, we look for and focus on key pressure Points, People and Places (PPP) where a small push can make a huge difference. Through working with the essential stakeholders and  using a variety of channels that are appropriate to the target group, we believe we can make crucial inroads into changing policies and affecting actions towards sustainable, resilient and just paths. Motivating and influencing peoples’ behavior demands a multi-disciplinary approach that relies on research, identifying the problem of the behavioral challenges, scientific evidence, education, psychology, communication, mass media, sociology and anthropology. It uses science for evidence, culture for change, faith systems for support and social media for outreach. It binds together unrelated groups linking and uniting them with a common goal to advance food and nutrition security as well as reducing the environmental impacts of the agri-food industry and building the food system’s resilience to shocks. Advocacy and social marketing services include: Marketing Research to assess knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and identify barriers and incentives to change. Develop social marketing strategic programs and implementable interventions. Design and deliver influencing advocacy campaigns. Supervise marketing and creative implementation when 3rd parties are involved. Program Evaluation.

Training and Capacity Development

Utilizing an interactive approach we offer a full spectrum of training, mentoring and coaching services, designed for practitioners, development staff, policy makers, executive leaders, board members, advocates, social entrepreneurs, students and engaged citizens. Our offerings include workshop style trainings, virtual training sessions, as well as ongoing coaching and consultation services. All offerings from Thriving Solutions will be available in English and Arabic, including any technical educational products. Training and Capacity Development services include but are not limited to: Virtual and In-house training sessions. Tailored workshops. Short term and Long term Mentoring and Coaching Services for all stakeholders. Arabization of educational documentations, principle documents, talks and online training as needed. Executive Sourcing of experts in the agri-food domain for long-term in-house support.

Strategy and Program Development

Thriving Solutions’ strategic consulting and coaching services are focused on food security, urban food systems. We are passionate about ensuring that food systems are nutritious, safe, affordable, regenerative, circular, stable, equitable, sustainable and resilient. We partner with governments, for-profit/non-profit institutions and development programs to help understand the challenges, define the vision and deliver impactful interventions in food policy and to create a circular economy in food system management.  Our aim is to help shape food systems in ways that improve the lives of people and advance sustainable cities, while ensuring the sustainability of the natural environment. Our key areas of interest:  healthy diets, reducing food loss and waste and building climate smart food systems. Strategic consulting services Include: Strategy development, including facilitating work groups to develop shared visions, strategies, frameworks and intervention. Policy review identifying current status, synergies, trade-offs. Conducting research to characterize the targeted food system and understand challenges, critical issues, drivers, gaps, trends, barriers to change as well as incentives and opportunities. Conduct rapid impact evaluations of promising urban food interventions. Carry country and institution level audits to identify food loss and waste hotspots and interventions needs and points. Formulate implementable programs and interventions that deliver impact. Identify and engage potential partners and facilitate building the required alliances and advancing urban food investment. This may involve using crowdsourcing techniques and exploring opportunities towards citizen science. Develop monitoring and evaluation frameworks. Conduct program evaluations to draw lessons learned.