Few case studies as ideas for zero-waste from food production and processing

Globally, the amount of agricultural waste is huge but not properly utilized yet. Precisely, about one billion tons of food produced for human consumption is wasted each year. This wastage global economy costs are estimated at US$ 1 trillion on annual level. The definition of food waste varies globally depending on where food waste occurs in the food supply and consumption chain, how it is generated, and what it covers. This review is a compilation of few different approaches in the context of zero waste from food production and processing. Soybean hull exploitation due to mass production of tofu, soymilk, edamame, tofu sausages and burgers, soy breads, soy pasta and soymilk yoghurts and cheeses, animal feed leads to a formation of high waste load. There are several available ways for soybean hull valorization: as a biofertilizer, as a substrate for microbial growth, as an adsorbent, for extraction of antioxidants and in our case for extraction of enzymes. The global consumption of coffee is approximately 10 million tons, resulting in a substantial production of spent coffee grounds (SCG) worldwide. However, this by-product has recently gained attention as a valuable source of usable compounds, particularly in our case for essential oils. During the cheese production process, the whey obtained as a by-product can be used as a raw material for development of new dairy products and in the same time to prevent the potential pollution of natural watercourses. The valorisation of the waste whey obtained in the cheese production by using it in the development of new products also contributes in the environment protection. In N. Macedonia, about 1000 tons of blood waste from industrial slaughterhouses flow into natural watercourses every year and it can find application in various industries. These are just a few examples that show that the possibilities for the implementation of the zero-waste concept are unlimited

Strengthening of biotechnological education in Macedonia as an important development component

Biotechnology is a discipline which is applied in different areas such as: food production and processing, pharmaceutical industry, diagnostics etc. By strengthening of biotechnological education in Macedonia (SBEM) can be improved and modernized this field of education in order to meet the industry needs in the country. SBEM will be coordinated by the Faculty of Technological Sciences as a part of the “Mother Teresa” University in Skopje and it will include vocational high schools dealing with biotechnology in the Republic of Macedonia and appropriate clusters in the frame of Commercial Chambers. The main objective is to improve teachers’ and trainers’competences and their ability to provide eLearning in-service vocational training courses for biotechnology secondary school teachers. Putting together of all stakeholders in biotechnological education will be done by establishment of a National Data for Biotechnological Education of Macedonia (NDBEM). Different type of training (courses, workshops, seminars) will be held at each faculty in e-learning way using active teaching/learning (ATL) approach. The trainings will be given by International and domestic experts in biotechnological education. ATL is important for university staff and vocational teachers as they had no pedagogical training during their graduate courses. University teachers will develop and implement classical and online vocational courses targeting recent advances in biotechnology for biotechnology teachers in VET schools. Previously, the market survey should be done in order to analyze the need of a real technological sector in cooperation with Commercial Chambers. NDBEM will be formed using assistance from Graz university and it will be used as a repository for online courses and teaching resources developed during trainings of university and teachers in biotechnology vocational education and training (BVET). Project deliverables will be stored and available in the NDBEM for future users. Its sustainability need to be provided by its recognition from the Ministries of Education and Science. SBEM will have the following specific objectives: improvement of quality and availability of vocational education; strengthening of professional and pedagogical competences of educators and trainers; and creation of the “open source“ repository for educators in the area of biotechnological educatio