From April 20 to April 22, 2026, in Vienna, Austria, the ToNoWaste Spring School took place as part of the ToNoWaste EU project (2022–2027). The Spring School addressed the pressing issue of food loss and waste and unsustainable food systems, bringing together participants to exchange, learn, and co-develop solutions.
The three-day event took place in two main locations: the FLEXraum, a spacious workshop room connected to an innovative community living building in Vienna’s second district, and the City Farm Augarten, a beautiful urban garden in the heart of the cities’ second district.
The 23 participants came from a wide range of food-system–related backgrounds, combining expertise in agriculture, food science and technology, sustainability and environmental studies, socio-economic policy, and climate-related fields, alongside practical experience in sectors like gastronomy, production, logistics, retail, and social or policy-oriented organizations, with a mix of students, researchers, and practitioners. In addition, 15 ToNoWaste project partners were also present.
The programme follows a progressive structure in which each day builds on the previous one, gradually deepening participants’ understanding through a balanced mix of theoretical input, practical insights, interactive group work, discussions, and dedicated time for individual reflection.
The three-day programme started with building a shared understanding of the food (waste) system through theory inputs, practical case studies, and interactive formats like a World Café (Day 1), then moved into collaborative scenario development for future food systems through combined theory, group work, and presentations (Day 2), and culminated in the co-creation of concrete policy recommendations based on these scenarios (Day 3). Across all days, theoretical input, real-world practice insights, group discussions, hands-on workshops, and moments for reflection and exchange were consistently integrated.
The partner organizations involved were the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW-ITA), Caritas Vienna (Community and Neighbourhood Work), Municipality of Halandri, Hälsinglands Education Association, University of Oslo, and Strateco.
Beyond exchange and learning, the Spring School produced concrete outputs: participants developed future scenarios and formulated corresponding policy recommendations, making the discussions highly concrete and action-oriented. The programme also enabled strong networking and knowledge exchange across disciplines and sectors, with participants highlighting its relevance for their own projects and professional contexts.
The Spring School was met with very positive feedback, with participants appreciating its well-structured, progressive design that combined theory, practical insights, and interactive group work. The programme successfully deepened participants’ understanding of the complexity of food systems and food waste, while equipping them with concrete tools such as systems thinking and policy-oriented approaches. Highlights included the collaborative atmosphere, real-world case studies, engaging workshop formats, and the unique locations. Participants left motivated to apply their learnings in their studies, professional paths, and everyday lives.
All photos are by Anja Bačovský.