Earlier this year, the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate established a working group on organic side streams from food production. The group’s role is to promote coordination across government agencies, identify regulatory and administrative barriers, and put forward proposals that support the increased utilisation of organic side streams and the development of the circular economy in Iceland.
The working group includes representatives from the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate, the Ministry of Industries, the Icelandic Environment and Energy Agency (UOS), the Icelandic Farmers Association, the Association of Agricultural Companies in Iceland, the Federation of Icelandic Industries and Fisheries Iceland.
The group’s objective is to create better conditions for utilising valuable nutrients and resources generated through Icelandic food production and to support solutions that reduce waste while increasing resource circularity.
The establishment of the group was a positive step and reflects a growing emphasis by the authorities on viewing organic side streams as a resource rather than waste. For projects such as Terraforming LIFE, this work is particularly important, as a clearer regulatory framework and better coordinated administration can have a significant impact on opportunities to utilise side streams such as fish sludge.
The work of the group began during the summer, and two meetings were held in the first months of its operation. Among the topics discussed were barriers to the utilisation of organic side streams and potential ways to improve the framework supporting such activities.
After the initial two meetings, the work of the group was temporarily delayed when its chair left his position at the Ministry to join the Icelandic Environment and Energy Agency (UOS). In late October, it was confirmed that he would continue to chair the group as a representative of the Ministry, and the next meeting is expected to be convened shortly.
“It is very positive to see the working group resume its work. It is important that the group now has the opportunity to continue its work and complete the task it was established to undertake, particularly as there are still many issues to address in advancing the utilisation of organic side streams in Iceland.” says Gyða Pétursdóttir, Project Manager for Terraforming LIFE and representative of the Icelandic Farmers Association in the working group.
