WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY

Pro Bono to Tackle Food Waste

Pro Publico matched Dianne Smits, a graduate student at Wageningen University, with top-tier EU regulatory & public affairs consultants at Freshfields to advance her mission of changing the EU food donation policy.

The Problem: EU Food Waste and Missed Opportunities

One third of food in the European Union is wasted annually. This amounts to nearly 60 million tonnes and around €132 billion in value, according to the European Commission.

While some of this waste is unavoidable, a significant share could be redirected to those in need through structured food donation programs. But unclear and inconsistent EU regulations often discourage businesses from donating edible but unsellable food.

The current policy environment doesn’t do enough to incentivize food donation or support food redistribution networks. That’s where legal innovation comes in.

The Vision: A More Sustainable EU Food System

Enter Dianne Smits, a passionate food law researcher whose vision is clear: to make food donation a default solution rather than a rare exception.

As part of her master’s thesis at Wageningen University, Dianne studied how EU law could evolve to facilitate food donations—helping reduce food waste, fight hunger, and align with the EU’s Farm to Fork Strategy and UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.

But Dianne knew that academic research alone wouldn’t move the needle. She needed legal insight to refine her proposal and then a strategy to influence the right policymakers. That’s where Pro Publico stepped in.

The Ask: Legal Help for a Policy Manifesto

After a successful earlier collaboration with Reed Smith, where pro bono lawyers helped turn her thesis into a position paper, Dianne returned to Pro Publico for support in the next phase.

This time, she needed help creating a manifesto aimed at EU policymakers – a document that would frame her proposal as a timely solution to food insecurity, backed by legal feasibility and regulatory insight.

She also needed to:

  • Identify the right EU stakeholders

  • Align her message with the current policy window

  • Ensure the technical precision and credibility of the proposal

The Match: Freshfields Steps Up

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, a global law firm with a strong Brussels-based EU regulatory team, took on the project. Leading the support were:

  • Natalie Pettinger Kearney, Head of EU Regulatory & Public Affairs Practice

  • Jimena Gonzalez, Digital & Fintech EU Regulatory & Public Affairs Consultant
  • Sarah Schmidt Ferreira, Project Manager EU Regulatory Public Affairs & Technology

Their deep knowledge of EU policymaking and timing made them ideal partners for the task.

“Freshfields found out which regulations with ongoing changes the proposal could apply to,” Dianne explained. “Unfortunately, they also found that the policy cycles we aimed to influence had already closed just before we were ready to share our findings.”

This insight was essential. Rather than attempting to push an outdated proposal, Dianne, with Freshfields’ guidance, pivoted to knowledge sharing instead of direct advocacy.

The Outcome: Strategic Visibility and Long-Term Impact

With Freshfields’ strategic input, Dianne uploaded the final version of her thesis and policy paper to the EU Food Loss and Waste Prevention Hub – a high-level expert platform growing out of the REFRESH Project.

This move ensures the research remains accessible to other organisations, policymakers, and thought leaders working on food waste and donation.

“This way, the information is available for people and organizations that also work on using food donations as a tool to reduce food waste,” said Dianne.

While the legislative window was missed this time, the visibility and dissemination strategy ensures the work still contributes to the broader policy conversation.

Reflections on a Two-Stage Collaboration

Dianne benefited from the combined expertise of two prestigious international firms, coordinated by Pro Publico.

  • Reed Smith helped sharpen her academic analysis into a legally sound position paper.

  • Freshfields later offered high-level advice on the best way and time to engage with EU regulatory actors.

Dianne summarized the experience in her own words:

“I loved how we could tap into Reed Smith’s insights first, then turn to Freshfields for strategy, which perfectly combined the companies’ strengths. I also really appreciate Pro Publico’s help – and that the pro bono service exists in general.”

Why Pro Bono Matters

This case highlights how pro bono legal support can amplify the impact of academic and social innovation. Without access to these high-caliber professionals, Dianne’s policy ideas might have stayed within academic circles. Instead, they are now accessible to a European-wide network of policymakers and practitioners.

If you’re an academic, social entrepreneur, or nonprofit working on issues like EU food donation policy, sustainability, or access to justice—Pro Publico can connect you with expert legal help.

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Thanks to @NataliePettingerKearney @JimenaGonzalez @SarahSchmidtFerreira @KarinaFletcher @DianneSmits @FrancescoZatelli @ProPublico

@WUR @EU_Commission (DG SANTE, DG AGRI) @EUPlatformFoodLossWaste @SDGoalsUN @foodwasteEU

#ProBonoEU #FoodWaste #SustainableFood #EULaw #FoodDonation #FarmToFork #SDG12 #LegalInnovation #ImpactStory #PublicInterestLaw