The BETA Technological Centre is leading the European initiative to standardize the methodology for quantifying food losses in primary production

This initiative has led to the development of a document within the framework of the European project FOLOU, which establishes a common methodology for quantifying food losses in primary production and obtaining comparable data between territories.

The BETA Technological Centre led the European working group, with the support of the Spanish Association for Standardization (UNE), which resulted in the document CWA 18410:2026 . This technical agreement, published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), aims to harmonize the measurement of food losses in primary production. Participants in this working group included the Catalan Waste Agency (ARC), the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DARPA), “espigoladors” (gleaners), and the Food Safety Authority and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

This is the first CWA in which BETA is participating and represents an important step towards a shared method for counting food lost before it leaves the field or farm. These losses can include, for example, fruit left on the ground, potatoes that are not harvested, or milk that is discarded.

This document was developed within the framework of the European project FOLOU, funded by the Horizon Europe program and coordinated by BETA, which works to improve knowledge about food losses in primary production. This project also helps European regions to apply tools and methodologies for quantifying these losses.

A common methodology for obtaining comparable data

Until now, one of the main difficulties in addressing food losses in primary production was the lack of a common system for measuring them. CWA 18410:2026 establishes a shared definition and a harmonized methodology that allows for the comparison of data between territories, studies, and countries.

The document defines food loss as any plant or animal intended for human consumption that, once ready for harvest or slaughter, is not used. It also includes food removed after harvest that does not end up as feed, by-product, or managed waste.

The methodology covers five major product groups: fruits and vegetables, cereals and legumes, roots and tubers, meat and dairy products, and aquaculture.

From the field to the data

The proposed system is based on three main steps. First, the sampling is planned, defining the territory, the activity, and the product to be analyzed. Next, measurements are taken on-site of what remains in the field or has been discarded on farms and fish farms. Finally, the results are extrapolated to a broader scale, such as a farm, a district, a region, or a country.

In some crops, the project also explores the use of drones and artificial intelligence to measure larger areas and obtain more accurate data.

A useful tool for farmers, administrations and European institutions

The CWA is a voluntary technical agreement. It is not an official standard and does not bind anyone, but it can become a reference document for future policies, standards, or legislation.

On the ground, it can help farmers, cooperatives, researchers, and government agencies understand how much production is lost, when it is lost, and why. It can also be used to verify whether measures implemented to reduce these losses are effective.

At the European level, the document comes at a crucial time. The Waste Framework Directive, revised in 2025, sets the first mandatory targets for reducing food waste by 2030, but excludes primary production. The European Commission will have to assess losses at this stage before 2027 and, to do so, will need reliable and comparable data.

With this methodology, FOLOU and BETA contribute to laying the foundations so that food losses in primary production can be better measured and, from there, decisions can be made about where action needs to be taken to reduce them.