Minister marks International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

Marking International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, urged consumers and food businesses to act to reduce food loss and waste.

He said:

“Here in Ireland, thanks to the constant innovation and dedication of our agricultural community, we are consistently ranked amongst the most food secure nations in the world, but in terms of food loss and waste, we need to do more. In Ireland, we utilise some of the most sustainable production systems in the world, but they still require inputs from our national resources such as energy, land, water and labour. When we waste food, these key resources also go to waste. Wasting food is costing each of us money as well as being bad for the environment.”

The Minister continued:

“With that in mind, I urge food businesses to sign up to the EPA’s Food Waste Charter, which involves a commitment to monitor, reduce and track their food waste. They also report annually on their progress so that they have quantifiable outcomes and measurable achievements. The aim of the Charter is to accelerate action to reach Ireland’s food waste reduction target. I encourage all operators in the food supply chain to visit the EPA website for more details.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

• The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has stated that if food loss and waste were a country, it would be the third biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Globally, food loss and waste generates 8 to 10% of greenhouse gas emissions.

• In 2022, the EPA estimated that an estimated 750,000 tonnes of food is wasted in Ireland, equating to 146kg of food waste per person with an estimated annual cost of €700 to the average household. Food Waste Statistics from the EPA

• Further information on Food Waste Charter: foodwastecharter.ie