Three initiatives aimed at reducing food waste generated by food businesses, retailers or suppliers in rural areas have secured some €300,000 in funding from the Department of Agriculture.

Announcing the funding, Minister for Agriculture Barry Cowen said he was delighted to support rural areas and the environment.

Ireland generates over 1m tonnes of food waste each year and Minister Cowen said it was more important than ever to continue developing initiatives to address the issue.

Projects

The successful projects were:

  • Clean Technology Centre, Cork Institute of Technology (CTC-CIT) which secured €98,500. This will fund the continued development and national roll-out of the 'Savour Food programme', which offers bespoke support to implement solutions tackling food waste that suit individual needs of engaged businesses.
  • Food Cloud is to receive €100,000. This project involves the development of technology to alert volunteers to when and where surplus food is available and what local charities can accept.
  • Foodie Save was also granted €100,000. This will help the development of a mobile app which allows businesses in the commercial food sector to sell their unsold surplus food at the end of their business day, thereby reducing food waste.

    • Minister Cowen concluded: “The food waste reduction projects also serve to address the fund’s overall objective of energising the rural economy by encouraging innovative job creation and sustainable enterprise development.”

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