EU’s Global Gateway supports Sri Lanka increase investment opportunities in agri-food

EU Ambassador Carmen Moreno

• Alternatives to single-use plastics through CIRCULAR program

The European Union (EU), in collaboration with the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development and the Government of Sri Lanka, has launched the three-year Circular Economy in the Food Sector (CIRCULAR) program, aimed at tackling food losses and reducing food and single-use plastic (SUP) waste. 

With the goal of supporting Government policies and efforts, CIRCULAR will identify, promote, and scale up investment opportunities and find innovative socio-economic and technological solutions that promote circular economy principles.

EU Ambassador Carmen Moreno said: “The CIRCULAR program shows what the EU’s Global Gateway strategy stands for by creating new opportunities for investments while addressing critical needs, such as food loss and plastic waste. Our € 15 million grant contribution for CIRCULAR shows the EU’s commitment to support the Government of Sri Lanka and partners in creating a safe environment for businesses to thrive.”

Sri Lanka faces significant food loss, from production to wholesale, and high levels of food and single-use plastic waste throughout the supply chain, including in households. The country generates 4,000 metric tons of food waste daily, or 56.6% of total municipal solid waste, and approximately 342,000 metric tons of plastic waste annually, out of which 68% is mismanaged or uncollected. At the same time, approximately 6.3 million Sri Lankans — 29% of the population — still struggle with food insecurity. 

In line with the Government of Sri Lanka’s priorities, CIRCULAR includes the following elements:

• Finding alternatives to single-use plastics: CIRCULAR will address the issue of SUP in the food sector and encourage the use of alternatives in Sri Lanka. The program will work with producers and consumers, both private and public, to make Sustainable Consumption and Production practices available in order to reduce SUP. Additionally, the program will support businesses involved in reducing food waste and loss, as well as in innovating around SUP reduction. This initiative will help existing businesses and create new opportunities to transition from a linear economy to a circular economy by improving access to sustainable financing.
• Reducing food loss and waste through a circular economy: CIRCULAR will support local agri-food stakeholders in selected locations to reduce food loss and waste through business and circular economy literacy. Islandwide initiatives will focus on enabling investment through multi-actor networking. Pilot projects will explore solutions for food loss and waste reduction, recovery of safe and nutritious food for human consumption, feed from former foodstuffs, biogas, and composting. Youth will be targeted for circular entrepreneurial literacy.
• Opening doors to investment opportunities for Sri Lankan SMEs: CIRCULAR is fostering innovation and sustainability within Sri Lanka’s food sector. The program aims to create sustainable, inclusive businesses that contribute to the reduction of food waste/loss as well as SUP, while also integrating circular economy and entrepreneurship principles into Vocational Training Centre curricula. CIRCULAR will include the Investment Readiness and Business Development Program, onboarding interested businesses to accelerate their journey towards sustainability and resilience.