Climate & Clean Air Coalition
Oct 27, 2026
Oct 27, 2026
Armenia launches CCAC-supported Organics Mobilized project to tackle food loss, organic waste and methane
by Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) – 27 October, 2026
Supported by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), Armenia has launched Organics Mobilized: Accelerating Social Transformation Towards a Circular Bioeconomy, a new initiative aimed at reducing food loss, improving organic waste management and cutting methane and other short-lived climate pollutant emissions.
The project was officially launched on 23 September in Yerevan at the American University of Armenia, bringing together representatives of the Government of Armenia, the American University of Armenia (AUA), UNDP Armenia, the German Environment Agency (UBA), CCAC and other partners.
Selected under the CCAC Food and Nutrition Challenge Programme 2025, Organics Mobilized is receiving a US$1.95 million CCAC grant, complemented by partner co-financing. The project is led by the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment in partnership with UNDP Armenia.
The Food and Nutrition Challenge supports projects that tackle food loss and waste by connecting solutions across different sectors. Organics Mobilized was one of two projects selected through the 2025 Challenge, bringing together food-loss prevention, better management of organic waste and more sustainable cold chains.
At the centre of the project are three Living Labs that will test solutions under real local conditions.
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In Lori, municipalities will work on source separation and composting of organic waste.
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In Kotayk and Gegharkunik, the project will develop systems for collecting and preparing organic material for use as feedstock for anaerobic digestion.
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In Syunik, a cold-chain Living Lab will test shared cold-storage solutions using natural refrigerants, where technically feasible, to reduce post-harvest food losses and improve access to storage for farmers, cooperatives and small businesses.
Beyond the Living Labs, the project will work with municipalities, businesses, farmers, operators and government institutions to put in place the services, skills, rules and financing needed to sustain and scale these solutions. This will include training, municipal service models, policy development and investment opportunities for anaerobic digestion and other circular organics solutions.
A national Learning Community of 10 municipalities will follow the pilots, exchange experience and explore how successful approaches can be adapted and replicated elsewhere in Armenia.
Organics Mobilized also builds on earlier work by AUA and UNDP Armenia, including circular economy initiatives in Stepanavan and Tashir. The project will use this existing experience to develop practical models that can be integrated into municipal and national systems.
For Armenia, the project responds to concrete challenges: reducing food losses, improving the management of organic waste, easing pressure on disposal sites, strengthening municipal services and creating value from resources that are currently lost or wasted.
The lessons can also have value beyond Armenia. Many countries face similar challenges around food loss, organic waste, sustainable cooling and municipal service delivery. Experience generated through Organics Mobilized can therefore be shared through the CCAC network and adapted in other countries.
Following the September launch, AUA, UNDP Armenia and project partners are now moving into implementation with municipalities, government institutions, technical partners and local stakeholders.
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