Moving from the international legal framework, where a uniform definition of food loss and waste is lacking, the research project aims at identifying best practices of food waste prevention, including food donation, through a comparative analysis of the approaches adopted at the regional (EU) and national levels (including also non-EU States). In fact, in view of the possible approval of amendments to the Waste Directive (COM proposal dated July 2023), which would impose binding reduction objectives for Member States, the research project foresees a comparison among the EU countries which have already introduced measures to reduce food loss and waste and non-EU States (i.e. developing countries that adopt prevention/reduction policies) aimed, on the one hand, at reducing the environmental impacts of food waste, and, on the other, at preventing the loss of nutritional value and access to food from a food security perspective. In thi svein, a specific focus will be given to the impact on/of local/urban food policies.The choice of the domestic legal systems and local/urban food policies to be analysed will be made on the basis of common agreement between the PhD candidate and the supervisor(s), based also on the interest and skills of the selected candidate.

The candidate must have a relevant degree from the Social Sciences (Law, Political Science, International Relations etc.) and a strong legal background in international, EU and/or comparative law. The knowledge of foreign languages other than English would be an asset to effectively conduct comparative research.

The PhD candidate will be introduced in a research team composed of scholars of international law and comparative law, who closely work with the reference person within the framework of two research projects on sustainability and responsible production and consumption of food funded with Next Generation EU funds, and namely within the 'ONFoods' project (https://onfoods.it/). He/she will profit from contacts with the interdisciplinary network of ONFoods researchers, from the University of Pavia and partner Universities, as well as from the supervisor’s established contacts with foreign research institutes specialized in food law and sustainability.