From Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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Today is the UN International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste. The theme of the day is “Reducing food loss and waste: Taking Action to Transform Food Systems”. This theme aligns with Ireland’s Food Vision 2030 strategy which aims to make Ireland a world leader in Sustainable Food Systems.
During his visit to Donegal Local Development Company (LDC) to-day, Minister Charlie McConalogue said tackling food waste is a key element is achieving a sustainable food system.
Donegal LDC is working closely with FoodCloud through its partnership on the FoodCloud Growers Project which involves the re-distribution of fresh produce, which otherwise may have gone to waste, to those in need.
Speaking in Letterkenny at Donegal LDC, Minister McConalogue said:
“I commend all of those involved in this partnership between Donegal Local Development Company and FoodCloud together with the 17 community and voluntary organisations that make up the Donegal Response network, and the participating growers for their work in supporting members of our community.
"Projects like these ensure that not only is valuable fresh produce is saved from being wasted, but the produce is distributed across the county to those who need it most. These actions, with the participation from everyone right along the food chain, play a key part in helping us reduce to food waste.“
Minister McConalogue added:
“The key to leadership in Sustainable Food Systems is to achieve a genuine balance between the three dimensions of sustainability, social, economic and environmental sustainability. Taking action to tackle food waste will be one of the key elements to achieving this.
"I am pleased that my department could fund the FoodCloud’s Growers Project this year through the Rural Innovation and Development Fund. This support is aligned with the Food Waste Prevention Roadmap’s aim to support social enterprises and community-based initiatives that promote surplus food redistribution from sectors such as retail and primary production.
"I wish both FoodCloud and Donegal LDC every success in their partnership and I look forward to seeing how the project develops."
The 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals include a commitment to halving per-capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reducing food losses along production and supply chains. Ireland’s Food Waste Charter asks food sector businesses to Pledge, Measure, Reduce, and Report on food waste. Reducing Food Loss and Food Waste presents an opportunity to improve the overall sustainability of our food systems.
The UN General Assembly, on 19 December 2019, designated 29 September as the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste.
In the resolution, the UNGA recognized that the observance of the International Day would contribute significantly to raising awareness of the importance of the problem and possible solutions at all levels, and to promote global efforts and collective action towards meeting SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production).
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 12 is about sustainable consumption and production.
SDG 12.3 states:
"By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses."
The food system is responsible for 34% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Nature Food Study 2021). It is the second-biggest contributor to climate change after the energy industry and the single biggest contributor to biodiversity loss, deforestation, drought, freshwater pollution and the collapse of aquatic wildlife.
The Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that Ireland generated 753,000 tonnes of food waste in 2021.
29% of food waste is estimated to come from households, 29% from the processing and manufacturing sector, with the remainder coming from restaurants and food service 25%, primary production 7%, and retail and distribution 10%.
The EPA estimates that the average Irish household can save around €700 per year by avoiding food waste.
Tips on how food waste can be reduced:
The Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23), launched in December 2022, is the second annual update to Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2019. This plan is the first to be prepared under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and following the introduction of economy-wide carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings. Implementation of the Climate Action Plan will create jobs, new economic opportunities and protect people and the planet.
Photos and captions to follow.