Rutas Gastronómicas Sostenibles de Extremadura, Hurtigruten Cruises and Too Good To Go are the winning initiatives of the FiturNext 2025 Challenge.

As in every edition, the selection process of the winning and finalist projects was determined by the Replicability Barometer and the Impact Barometer, ending with the external evaluations of the FiturNext Advisory Board, which contributed to the final verdict.

Food surplus in the spotlight: discover the winning initiatives

The reduction of food waste, the promotion of recycling, composting and circular systems and the promotion of endogenous products and local gastronomy are some of the common values shared by the winning initiatives of FiturNext 2025.

Rutas Gastronómicas Sostenibles de Extremadura is an initiative of the Tourism Department of the Regional Government of Extremadura that has developed three sustainable gastronomic routes (Cheese, Olive Oil and Ibérico Routes). These routes are focused on local products and connect the culture, nature and gastronomy of the region. This project, awarded in the category of destinations and other territories, involves 365 companies and offers 63 unique experiences that promote local products and rural agrotourism. It also includes regular controls and training in food sustainability.

Hurtigruten Cruises is a Norwegian company that aims for zero food waste by implementing a circular food system on its cruises. Through Artificial Intelligence, proximity sourcing and composting, they manage to reduce food waste per passenger. This project, awarded in the HORECA and transport category, works with more than 50 local suppliers to promote sustainability and economic development in coastal communities, who receive the organic surplus as a valuable resource for their activities.

Too Good To Go has developed an app that connects establishments with surplus food with users who can purchase these products at a reduced price, operating in 18 countries. Winner in the category of other actors in the food chain in tourism, the app has more than 100 million users and promotes awareness of food sustainability and respect for the environment.

Find out about the finalist initiatives of the FiturNext 2025 Challenge

Nine projects have been selected as finalists of the 2025 Challenge for their dedication and contribution to sustainable food management in tourism.

WASP - Alentejo Wine Sustainability Programme: Promotes sustainable practices in viticulture and surplus management, making one third of the wine-growing territory sustainable.

Hungry for Finland: National strategy 2024-2028 to create networks and best practices in food tourism, positioning Finland as a sustainable food destination.

H10 - Stay Green: Food sustainability system with AI in 67 hotels, reducing 500 tonnes of waste and 1,466,300 kg of CO2.

Honest Food by Iberostar: Promotes seafood sustainability and efficient management with AI to measure and reduce surplus. So far in 2024, over 1,000 tonnes of compost produced and 2,900 tonnes of organic matter sent to farms.

Gourmet Catering and Naria: Uses blockchain for traceability of surplus food at the Valencia Congress Centre, donated to the local food bank.

Intursa's food rescue programme in Lima: Donates surplus buffet food to the Food Bank of Peru, benefiting more than 3,600 people.

Sustainable Food in Hotels by Futouris: Helps hotels reduce waste and support local supply chains with sustainability guidelines and tools.

Finca la Floración: Highlights the peach of Cieza (Murcia), rescues traditional varieties with tourism in its Interpretation Centre and makes use of the entire production, avoiding food waste.

Archaeoastronomy: Recovers classic food production techniques through research and reproduces them in collaboration with small producers, for their dissemination in museums and archaeological sites.

FiturNext 2025 coming soon

As in every edition, the Observatory is preparing a four-day agenda full of talks, presentations, conferences and round tables with specialists in food sustainability. A preview of the programme will be shared soon, including the awards ceremony on 22 January at 12:30h (CET) and the presentation of the 2025 report.