IMPACT REPORT 2022
Introduction
The latest SOFI report (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, 2023) – ‘State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. Urbanization, agrifood systems transformation and healthy diets across the rural–urban continuum‘ – records a growing prevalence, at a global level, of chronic hunger and malnutrition. ‘End hunger and all forms of malnutrition‘, #sdg2, is increasingly distant from the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ defined by the United Nations General Assembly in view of 2030.
In 2022 Hunger and ‘acute’ or ‘moderate’ malnutrition afflicted at least 9,2% and 29,6% of the world’s population respectively in 2022, according to rough estimates from UN agencies. 22,3% of children under five years of age are affected by rickets and 6,8% by wasting due to hunger and chronic malnutrition. (1) The ‘double burden of malnutrition’ is also recorded in obesity – a pathological condition that exposes one to greater risks of Non-Communicable Diseases’ (NCDs) – which today affects over a billion people (650 million adults, 340 of adolescents, 39 of children. WHO 2022), increasing compared to 2021. (2)
FAO lists various drivers to help address these problems and improve the nutritional security of populations (#sdg3, ‘Ensure Health and Well-being‘), as well as promoting the sustainable development of agri-food systems. Agroecology, optimization of livestock supply chains, research and development of alternative and innovative protein sources, circular economy and reduction of food waste, innovation (3,4.5). All topics on which the research and awareness activities of WIISE benefit Srl focus.
Wiise, 2022 social balance sheet
Wise continues its research, innovation and awareness-raising activities among interested parties. Attention is paid to the development of sustainable agri-food systems capable of ensuring access and availability of healthy and nutritionally balanced foods to the populations of the planet, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals in the UN Agenda 2030. ( 6)
Independent information
The activity related to independent information and is created by WIISE benefit through the websites GIFT e FARE, both free to access and free of advertising banners and pop-ups, on various themes including:
- research and innovation in the agri-food supply chain, novel foods,
- sustainable development in agriculture and livestock, processing industry, distribution,
- biodiversity and ecosystems, animal welfare, public health. OneHealth,
- nutrition and health. Scientific research, nutritional labelling,
- consumers, initiatives and market surveys,
- food safety, official controls, food fraud,
- consumer information, labels and advertising,
- materials and objects in contact with food,
- agro-industrial and supply chain policies, #VanghePulite.
Research and innovation projects
WIISE participates in various research projects within the scope of PRIMA (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area), Horizon and Horizon Europe to offer strategic and ‘stakeholder building’ support, regulatory analysis and ‘policy briefs’, technical-legal consultancy and drafting of operational guidelines, training, data management and blockchain technology, communication. Below are the projects defined and under development in 2022 in which Wiise has participated and participates:
- Camelmilk, a project concluded at the end of 2022 as part of the PRIMA program, with the aim of analyzing and accompanying the development of milk and dairy product production chains from camelids in the Euro-Mediterranean area. Wiise was responsible for the analysis of the regulations applicable in the various territorial areas (EU, Turkey and Algeria), the recognitions necessary for the circulation of products in the EU market, the analysis of promotion opportunities linked to the nutritional and health virtues of the ‘ camel milk’,
- ProFuture, still ongoing in the Horizon 2020 programme, has made it possible to explore the development prospects of the microalgae supply chain and optimize the production of four of their ‘strains’ in view of their use in food and feed. (7) Wiise is committed to the application of Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, ‘nutritional and health claims’ and the regulation of ‘coloring food’, ‘policy brief’, (8) ‘data management plan’,
- EcoeFISHent, in Horizon Europe, aspires to optimize the circular economy in the seafood supply chain by recovering processing sludge and reusing waste to produce ingredients for food, feed, cosmetic products, medicines and medical devices. Wiise contributes to the development of good practices and procedures, analysis of sector and environmental regulations, proposals for reform of the EU regulation on animal by-products to encourage ‘upcycling’ activities in safe conditions,
- Wasteless, in Horizon Europe, is a research project dedicated to the monitoring and reduction of food losses and waste, to be measured through a blockchain system developed by Wiise benefit as ‘open innovation’, to be integrated with a digital ‘toolbox’ where to collect and share good practices oriented towards the reuse of secondary flows and waste.
Training
The training is carried out by the Wiise benefit team in various academic and associative contexts as well as with the authorities responsible for official controls, at a national and international level.
The writer has, among other things, received the assignment of teaching in food law, starting from the academic year 2021-2022, at the University of Naples Federico II (Department of Veterinary Medicine, three-year course of Inspection of foods of animal).
Internship hospitality and internships recorded a decline in 2022 to start again in 2023, thanks to Alessandra Mei – graduated in law, with a master’s degree in agri-food law from the Alma Mater of Bologna – and Gabriele Sapienza, graduated in agricultural sciences and technologies, the who is now completing his studies in environmental protection (master’s degree) and circular economy (first level master’s degree).
Consulting
The FARE division (Food and Agriculture Requirements) of WIISE benefit Srl continued and still continues its technical-legal, regulatory and institutional relations consultancy activities. In favor of a variety of international local operators and some of their associations, including consumer associations, in the food and food supplements, chemistry and FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) supply chains. During 2022, among other things, some food safety crises were successfully managed, one of which was inter-continental in scope, and the preparation of a ‘novel food’ authorization dossier relating to ingredients derived from insects.
Égalité non-profit, actions for the social
Égalité, the non-profit association founded by the Wiise benefit team, continues to receive its support on the various fronts of:
- research and editorial activities, public awareness and lobbying in support of the rights of the most vulnerable sections of the population, at national and EU level,
- finalization of the non-profit industrial project for the construction of a chair intelligent (on wheels), in collaboration with a leading company in the sector (Mecaprom, Regis group),
- professional activity, on a voluntary basis, for the concrete protection of the rights of fragile and disabled people who turn to the association.
Future prospects
In 2023-2024 WIISE Srl, a benefit company, will continue with its research and development activities, to offer its humble contribution to the promotion and pursuit of the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDGs) in the UN Agenda 2030.
Continuing also the daily activities of free public information on issues related to agri-food supply chains, sustainability and related responsibilities (Corporate Social Reporting, ESG, ‘due diligence’), nutrition and health, animal welfare.
Dario Dongo
Director
WIISE Benefit
Footnotes
(1) Dario Dongo. State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. Report FAO et al. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(2) WHO. World Obesity Day 2022 – Accelerating action to stop obesity. https://tinyurl.com/pd2ajey7 4.3.22
(3) Dario Dongo, Camilla Fincardi. Agroecology, SDGs, salvation. The FAO Decalogue. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(4) Dario Dongo, Marina De Nobili.Animal husbandry, FAO proposes 5 intervention areas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(5) Dario Dongo, Alessandra Mei. Automation in agriculture, the FAO 2022 report. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 16.11.22
(6) Dario Dongo.SDGs, the necessary transformations for the food supply chain. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(7) Dario Dongo. The role of microalgae in food and feed, state of the art. #ProFutureEU. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
(8) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Horizon4Proteins. Protein research compared with EU policies and rules. (Great Italian Food Trade). 21.5.23
