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: “The commitment to reduce food waste is reflected in national policy documents including the whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy 2022-2023, my 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: “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.”