Latgale Planning Region Presents “SchoolFood WasteSolutions” Results in Stockholm and Contributes to Shaping Future Interreg Policy

This week, from 2–3 June, the Interreg Central Baltic Programme thematic seminar “Central Baltic Navigating Towards Impact” took place in Stockholm, Sweden. The Latgale Planning Region and the SchoolFood WasteSolutions project were represented by Project Manager Ruta Priede, Preiļi Municipality Project Manager Antra Meluškāne, and Kaidi Randpõld, representative of the Tartu County Municipalities Association.

On the first day of the seminar, Merike Niitepõld, Head of the Managing Authority of the Interreg Central Baltic Programme, introduced participants to the programme’s current status and provided strategic insights into future priorities. Panel discussions and expert presentations highlighted cooperation at the Baltic Sea region level, particularly in relation to the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region (EUSBSR) and the role of the bioeconomy in implementing circular economy solutions.

Speaking about the future of the Central Baltic Programme, Merike Niitepõld emphasized an important strategic direction for the next programming period. She noted:

“Until now, cooperation activities and development initiatives within the Central Baltic Programme have largely been concentrated around the Baltic Sea region, which has historically been the programme’s geographical and thematic centre. However, considering the geopolitical developments of recent years and the increasing focus on security issues, much greater attention should be paid to border regions in the next period. It is important to strengthen the resilience, competitiveness, and development potential of these territories while ensuring balanced regional development and support for regions along the European Union’s external borders that face specific challenges.”

During the event, the SchoolFood WasteSolutions project was presented as one of the most progressive projects under Programme Objective 3 (“Joint Circular Economy Solutions”), showcasing the results achieved during its first year.

Particular emphasis was placed on the project’s extensive visibility and regional impact. Communication activities on social media have already generated more than 350,000 views, and schools outside the project partnership have also expressed interest in the methods used to reduce food waste. “The project has been running for only one year, yet the visible results and the team’s motivation to implement change demonstrate that the chosen solutions are effective,” emphasized Ruta Priede, Project Manager of the Latgale Planning Region.

On the second day of the seminar, representatives of the SchoolFood WasteSolutions project actively participated in seven thematic working groups that formulated recommendations for achieving broader cross-border impact. The main discussion topics included:

• Future priorities (2028–2034) in the field of circular economy;
• Target setting and impact measurement, including solutions for defining realistic baseline levels;
• Visibility and communication, aimed at improving project recognition among stakeholders;
• Sustainability of results, discussing how to maintain project momentum after project completion.

Alongside the working group sessions, participants gained inspiration from other circular economy projects addressing textile waste recycling (CircElTex, Baltic2Hand), the reuse of construction materials (CircularRoad, Waste to Value), and smart waste collection systems (SustainaCycle).

The conclusions and recommendations developed by the working groups will be used in planning the next Interreg Central Baltic Programme period, with the aim of fostering even more effective cross-border cooperation and project impact across the region.

The SchoolFood WasteSolutions project will continue until 2028, further developing solutions that not only reduce waste but also transform school cafeterias into “school restaurants.”

More information about the project:

Ruta Priede
Project Manager, Latgale Planning Region
E-mail: ruta.priede@lpr.gov.lv