A total of 167 participants, including both adults and children, attended the event “In the Garden, Kitchen, and City – Sustainability Tips for the Whole Family” in Budapest, which also served as the public closing conference of the BIOECO-UP project.
The event aimed to expand public knowledge of the bio-based economy and highlight practical ways individuals can contribute to more sustainable everyday practices. During the programme, educational materials developed over the project’s three-year duration were presented, with several showcased through talks and interactive sessions. Project leaders Soós Rita and Dr. Szabó Anett Krisztina provided a comprehensive overview of the initiative, introducing the concept of the bioeconomy and outlining the role of consumers within this system, drawing on the project’s infosheets.
Dr. Szuvandzsiev Péter, agricultural engineer, addressed biodiversity, sustainability, and gardening solutions adapted to changing climate conditions. In her presentation, Farkas Renáta focused on composting, underlining its importance in improving soil structure, enhancing water retention, and strengthening plant resilience.
Closing the programme, food futurist Dalmadi Júlia highlighted that approximately 30% of food is lost or wasted at different stages of the supply chain. To address this issue, she introduced the concept of upcycling, which reimagines by-products of food production as valuable raw materials for creating new, higher-value products. Following the talk, participants had the opportunity to taste such items, including crackers made from spent grain left over from beer production.
As part of the creative workshops, attendees planted heritage varieties of tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce, encouraging home-based food cultivation. With the guidance of artisans, they also crafted sustainable toys and decorative items from wool and corn husks.
Even after the project’s completion, its resources remain accessible: informational brochures are available in the website’s media library, while video tutorials in both Hungarian and English can be viewed on YouTube, supporting the DIY creation of bio-based products.