A three-year project seeking to reduce food waste was launched Tuesday as part of the EU Life Foster project.

The project, a collaboration between the Malta Business Bureau and the Institute for Tourism Studies, will see professionals attending seminars on waste management and will educate trainee chefs, kitchen staff and front-of house restaurant personnel. 

Workshops will also be held to target restaurant staff and owners, the Malta Business Bureau said in a statement.

"The project focuses mainly on training and prevention," ITS corporate services director Claire Briffa said. "ITS will identify lecturers who will attend food waste management training in Italy, being trained in methods of food waste reduction in restaurant environments," she added.

The project will culminate in a food waste 'hackathon' in the final year, where three ITS students will compete against students of the other partner countries in designing and cooking the most food-efficient menu.

“Food waste is a challenging environmental topic which also very tangibly affects businesses’ bottom line," MBB President Simon De Cesare said.

"The capacity building element of this project leaves us very hopeful that not only can we support Malta’s achievements in food waste reduction, but also contribute to the continuous professional development of Malta’s largest economic sector, the hospitality industry," he added.