The team of the “Resource Efficiency in Agri-food Production and Processing” (REAP) project, funded by the European Union, has produced a video highlighting the key achievements of the project. The REAP project aimed to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan by promoting sustainable consumption and production (SCP) practices in the agri-food sector.
Implemented between 2020 and 2024, the project provided support to over 390 companies in implementing resource-efficient and cleaner production (RECP) practices. More than 1,200 RECP solutions were introduced, resulting in significant reductions in energy use, water and raw material consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation. As a result, participating companies now save over €114,000 annually by optimizing operations and using resources more efficiently. The measures implemented helped save nearly 2 million kWh of energy per year, avoid more than 500 tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions, reduce water usage by 7,000 cubic meters, and cut raw material consumption by over 120 tons annually.
A key focus of the project was capacity building. A total of 35 national consultants were trained, along with representatives of financial institutions and enterprises. Four SCP cells were established and continue to operate beyond the end of the project:
In Uzbekistan:
· Bukhara EcoEnergy - https://reap-centralasia.org/Consulting-services/bukhara-eco-energy
· FarPI HiTech Engineer - https://reap-centralasia.org/Consulting-services/hitech-engineer
In Tajikistan:
· Khujand SCP Cell - https://reap-centralasia.org/Consulting-services/KhujandScpCell
· GBAO Agribusiness Association - https://reap-centralasia.org/Consulting-services/gbao-agribusiness-association
REAP also played a key role in promoting green finance. More than 30 companies received support in accessing cleantech finance, while over 20 financial institutions were involved in the development of cleantech finance products.
At the policy level, the project had an impact on building a sustainable agenda in the region: more than 50 government representatives participated in policy dialogues that led to the development of seven national SCP policies prototypes.
A detailed overview of the achievements is available in the project video: