Italy food waste initiatives: Barilla donates 4,000 tons of food

On the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, various Italian organizations and companies highlighted efforts to combat food waste and support vulnerable populations.

Barilla announced the donation of 4,000 tons of food products and 2 million euros for social causes in 2025. Through its partnership with Fondazione Banco Alimentare, the company works to redistribute food surpluses to those in need. Additionally, Barilla has supported initiatives like ‘Biscotti della Felicità’ for Dynamo Camp and ‘Biscotti Senza Frontiere’ for Médecins Sans Frontières.

Agricultural and social organizations also reported on the issue. Cia-Agricoltori Italiani noted an 11.2% drop in domestic food waste but warned that fresh produce remains highly affected. Coldiretti Puglia emphasized the need to prevent food from becoming waste, noting that 14.8% of families in Puglia face food poverty. In Rome, ACLI inaugurated the ‘Dispensa Solidale,’ a space dedicated to recovering food surpluses and providing hygiene and childcare products to families in difficulty.

Regional efforts were also noted, with the Banco Alimentare in Pesaro and Urbino collecting over 95,000 kg of food in 2025 to assist those facing the impacts of inflation and the cost of living.