MASTERCLASS C: Advancing Saudi Vision 2030: Solving Global Food Waste with a Circular Approach for a Sustainable Future

Workshop Overview

Advancing Saudi Vision 2030: Solving Global Food Waste with a Circular Approach for a Sustainable Future 

Key Objectives

✅ Understand the scale and impact of global food waste
✅ Learn about circular economy principles in food systems
✅ Explore innovative solutions for food waste reduction, redistribution and upcycling
✅ Identify actionable steps to support Saudi Vision 2030’s sustainability goals

Agenda

• Icebreaker: What’s one surprising fact you know about food waste?

• The Global Food Waste Crisis

  • 1.3 billion tonnes of food wasted annually ($1 trillion loss)

  • Environmental impact: 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Social and economic consequences of food insecurity.

• Connection to Saudi Vision 2030

  • Food security and waste reduction as part of sustainability goals

  • Advancing circular economy initiatives in Saudi Arabia

The Circular Economy Approach

• What is the Circular Economy?

  • Shifting from “take-make-dispose” to regenerative systems.

  • Creating new sources of value

• Key Strategies to Reduce Food Waste
  ✅ Prevention: Optimising supply chains, improving storage, reducing surplus
  ✅ Redistribution: Connecting surplus food to communities in need
  ✅ Upcycling: Transforming food waste into compost, bioplastics, bioenergy, animal feed, and biomaterials
  ✅ Regenerative Agriculture: Returning nutrients to the soil through composting

Real-World Innovations and Saudi Initiatives

• Case Studies and Global Best Practices

  • Technologies

  • Industries

  • Countries

  • Startups

• Saudi Arabia’s Efforts and Vision 2030 Alignment

  • National efforts to reduce food waste and enhance sustainability

  • Circular economy initiatives in Saudi agriculture and food industries

  • Opportunities for businesses, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to take action

Group Discussion and Activity

🔹 Interactive Brainstorming

• How can Saudi Arabia accelerate food waste reduction?

• What role can businesses, government, and individuals play?

• What innovative upcycling solutions could be implemented locally?

🔹 Mini Group Challenge

• Each group develops a quick strategy for food waste reduction in their sector (e.g., retail, restaurants, agriculture, households).

• Groups share their ideas with the room.

Conclusion and Next Steps

• Key Takeaways and Summary

• Call to Action

  • Encourage partnerships between businesses, researchers, and policymakers

  • Support local initiatives tackling food waste

  • Advocate for circular food systems to align with Saudi Vision 2030.

• Q&A & Closing Remarks

Meet Your Expert Workshop Leader

Kristin is a purpose-driven industry leader dedicated to tackling food security, food waste, and circular economics to ensure a sustainable global food system. With over 30 years of FMCG & seafood industry leadership, he has held senior roles at Nomad Foods, Regal Springs, Grobest, and eFishery, gaining deep expertise across the value chain—from farms to processors and retailers.

As co-founder of Karmic Global, a biotech startup, Kristin is pioneering solutions to eliminate food waste by upcycling seafood industry byproducts into biopolymers with activated nanoparticles. These innovations extend the shelf life of fresh produce, extend crop yields, reduce reliance on plastics and save logistics costs while promoting full circularity in food supply chains.

Kristin serves as a Board Trustee at the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, chairing its Strategy & Policy Committee, and was previously a board member at the Global Shrimp Council. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce – Marketing from the University of Western Sydney.