In Bergamo, the MT 25 volunteer association recovers surplus food and supports 300 families in need.

A Bergamo the voluntary association MT 25 fights food waste by recovering all foods that are about to expire or are no longer marketable, but are absolutely suitable for consumption, and then distributing them to families in difficultyThis is not just a simple package donated to families in greatest difficulty, but a real redistribution system, aimed at transforming the enormous waste of resources into real support for family income and for the benefit of the environment in which we live.

MT 25 VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION

The project sees the participation of 36 volunteers di 9 different nationalities This allows for socialization and aggregation prior to the project. To give an idea of ​​the initiative's scope, 1.054 people are helped with a weekly shopping trip, and are rehabilitated and distributed. 300 tons of food, worth €1,2 million, or €4.000/year for each of the 300 families. Mt 25 also educates about respect and the value of the Earth's resources and allows for networking and sharing of resources.

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MT 25 BERGAMO

Food waste is one of the greatest paradoxes of our time: currently, over a third of the food produced worldwide is wasted, 80% of which could still be consumed continuously. By 2050, the population will grow to 9 billion, driving food demand to exceed 60%. Resources are finite, so we need to rethink how to use them more optimally.

From an environmental point of view, the food waste It's extremely harmful. First and foremost, consider the greenhouse gases it produces: it's estimated that food waste is responsible for 8% of greenhouse gas emissions. With wasted food, the land, water, and fertilizers needed for its production are also wasted, and the environment is thus polluted, exploited, or needlessly altered.

From an economic point of view, every year approximately 1,3 billions of tons of food, of which more than 10 million tons in Italy alone. The estimated value of waste in Europe is €120 billion, €12,3 billion of which is in Italy, an economic loss corresponding to 0,2 percentage points of GDP. Food has a production cost and a disposal cost; food waste increases both costs.

From an ethical and social perspective, food waste is unacceptable. Chronic hunger affects 1 billion people worldwide. We need to reestablish a balance between those who have too much and those who have nothing. How? By redistributing resources to those most in need, exactly what Matthew 25 does with its ambitious project.

The project is competing for the 2019 edition of the Non Sprecare Award. To learn more about the competition and participate, go to here!

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PROJECTS TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE:

• The Good Samaritan Project: In Seriate, soup kitchen food shouldn't be wasted. Becoming a resource.
• Too Good To Go: the app that saves excess food by transforming it into delicious and affordable meals
• Food Pride: In Turin, delivery riders ride bicycles to save food from the garbage dump.
• Food is not wasted, in Alba 300 families receive leftover food from nurseries and the municipality
• OzHarvest, the anti-waste supermarket. Those who can, donate money or food. And those who can't, buy without paying (photo)