Project Competition of the SAVE FOOD Initiative

The SAVE FOOD Initiative Project Competition puts impactful projects in the spotlight that actively contribute to reducing food loss and food waste — especially in the fields of processing and packaging.

The competition reflects SAVE FOOD’s broader mission: to drive more responsible resource management across the entire food supply chain through improved agricultural practices, better logistics, smarter processing and packaging concepts, stronger household awareness and greater political engagement.

The 2026 edition once again put impactful projects to the forefront. Now, the spotlight turns to the winning project: the award ceremony will take place during the SAVE FOOD Expert Talks at interpack 2026.

All submitted projects focus

The 2026 edition once again highlighted impactful projects. Attention now turns to the winning project:

The winner of this year’s SAVE FOOD Project Competition is Trueways Enterprises with the project “Edible Primary Packaging Innovation Pilot”, implemented in collaboration with the Institute of Packaging Professionals Kenya. The approach: edible primary packaging based on fruit leather.

The aim is to reduce both food losses and packaging waste by transforming surplus or non-marketable fruit into a new packaging material that can replace conventional plastic solutions.

The solution addresses multiple points along the value chain: it reduces post-harvest losses, avoids packaging waste, and opens up new opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to adopt more sustainable packaging solutions. The award also includes financial support to help further develop and implement the project in practice.

We congratulate our winner.

Some impressions can be found here:
Copyright: Messe Düsseldorf / Tillmann

Project Competition of the SAVE FOOD Initiative 2026

Previous winners of the SAVE FOOD Project Competition

Winner of the 2024 edition

The SAVE FOOD Project Competition 2024 was awarded to Tomato Jos Farming and Processing Limited from Nigeria. The project received the prize money for its successful approach to reducing food losses in tomato production.

Tomato Jos supports smallholder farmers with training, improved seeds, modern farming methods and direct market access. In addition, the company uses sturdy bulk crates instead of traditional wicker baskets, helping to better protect tomatoes during transport. As a result, post-harvest losses have already been reduced by around 45 percent.

The prize money is being used to further expand the company’s programmes, including training in pest control, the introduction of new tomato varieties, and further improvements in packaging and transport.

Winner of the first edition in 2023

The first edition of the SAVE FOOD Project Competition in 2023 was won by the SIG Foundation with its project "Cartons for Good".

With this initiative, the SIG Foundation uses SIG’s filling technology to help people in developing countries process food locally and extend shelf life, thereby contributing to the reduction of food losses. The project demonstrates how innovation and technology can help address one of the world’s most pressing challenges.

The project impressed the expert jury with its holistic approach, combining technological innovation with local impact.