Budapest among the world’s 50 most innovative cities

According to their announcement, the 50 finalist cities – including Budapest – selected from more than 630 applications will each receive a grant of $50,000 to test and further develop their application ideas.

Budapest has set a goal of establishing a municipally-run processing plant that would transform vegetables and fruits that remain in the markets but are still edible into nutritious, semi-finished or finished foods, such as sliced and frozen vegetables, jams, and pickles. These would be used in public catering – primarily in schools and nursing homes.

The aim of the initiative, according to the Mayor’s Office, is multifaceted: it would reduce food waste, improve the nutrition of children and the elderly, support the circular economy, and increase the income of local producers by creating a market for previously unsalable but high-quality produce.

The entire supply chain – from procurement to processing to transportation – would be coordinated by the capital’s municipality, thus guaranteeing transparency, efficiency, and long-term sustainability, the statement reads.