The FIAS project seeks to raise awareness and improve the capacities of workers in the food industry in environmental aspects.

The FIAS project seeks to raise awareness and improve the capacities of workers in the food industry in environmental aspects.

The initiative will start with the preparation of specific diagnoses for three food subsectors (the processing of fisheries, vegetables and meat products), in order to identify the most important environmental problems in each of them and possible solutions, as well as specific training needs.

The objective of the FIAS project is to promote the increase of knowledge, skills and qualifications of workers in the food processing sector in concepts of sustainability and eco-innovation of the food industry. It is the leading national industry: it generates 8% of GDP, with more than 500,000 direct jobs.

The initiative will provide specific training in techniques for applying clean production concepts and other tools for environmental improvement and eco-efficiencies. The rational use of resources (water, energy, raw materials) and the use of by-products will be promoted to reduce waste generation. At the same time, efforts will be made to meet the 2010 European waste targets. Concepts such as life cycle analysis and carbon footprint calculation will also be introduced.

All the target audiences of the project actions belong to the food industry sector or are suppliers of specific technologies for the sector. The face-to-face training is aimed at workers in the food industry processing fish, vegetables and meat.

The expected results of the project are:

• Training of 100 recipients. The project will reach a total of 220 workers.
• Reduction in the use of natural resources, mainly water and energy, between 5 and 30% in the food industries.