Government announces funding for food waste reduction project

by | Jun 1, 2023 | Food waste reduction | 0 comments

Calm female sorting organic trash in kitchen in light room

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue T.D has announced the FoodCloud Growers Project will receive funding of nearly €200,000 to support its crucial work in reducing food waste.

The funding comes through the Rural Innovation and Development Fund, for food waste reduction initiatives.

While making the announcement of the successful project with associated funding of some  €180,000, Minister McConalogue said:

I am delighted that we can continue to support projects in rural areas in reducing food waste and contribute to our commitment to reduce the amount of food we waste in accordance with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

This includes SDG 12.3 which calls on all nations to halve food waste and reduce food loss by 2030.

Minister McConalogue stated that:

The commitment to reduce food waste is reflected in national policy documents including the whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2023, the Department’s Food Vision 2030 and in the recent publication of the Food Waste Prevention Road Map.

This initiative will further enhance the work previously funded to identify, target and address what is a rapidly growing issue not just here in Ireland but globally.

The Minister added that:

Ireland generates over one million tonnes of food waste each year. It is now more important than ever to continue to develop initiatives to help to address this issue.

Food waste costs the average Irish home approximately €700 per year and it is estimated that between 8% and 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions are as a result of food waste. So, by tackling food waste we improve the climate while saving money.

Welcoming the announcement, Minister Rabbitte said:

Food Cloud connect businesses that have surplus food with charities and community groups that need it.  It was an inspirational concept brought to life by Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O’Brien in 2012.  Their mission is simply to transform surplus food into opportunities, to make the world a kinder place.

We should all aspire to a world where no good food goes to waste.  As for kindness, it is a choice, alongside attitude and respect. We must all choose wisely, for whatever choice we make, makes us.