Minister McConalogue launches Savour Food E-Tool at Munster Technology University

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. has launched the Savour Food E-Tool, an initiative developed as part of the Savour Food programme for Irish Food Service businesses to tackle food waste.

Launching the Savour Food e-tool, Minister McConalogue said:

“Last Wednesday marked International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Food Waste so it is an ideal time to announce the launch of the Savour Food E-Tool, which can be used free of charge by all food service businesses to assist with food waste reduction. This ties in with the ambition of the Departments strategy “Food Vision 2030” which provides a path forward to half food waste in Ireland by 2030. The hospitality and food services sector is responsible for over 200,000 tonnes of food waste generated each year. Across the Irish food service sector approximately two-thirds of food waste is potentially avoidable. Total food waste equates to an annual cost well in excess of €300 million for the food service sector as a whole so this e-tool is a vital resource for any food business. I am delighted that my Department is in a position to continue to fund this worthwhile initiative”.

Savour Food developed by Clean Technology Centre is a food waste reduction programme for businesses and aims to bring about sustained change in Irish businesses in terms of food waste prevention. Savour Food is now offering a free online facility, i.e. Savour Food E-Tool where foodservice businesses can assess how much food waste might be costing and what they can do across the business to reduce it. The e-tool is free to use and can be found at savourfood.ie.

The Savour Food programme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine under the Rural Innovation & Development Fund and is managed by Clean Technology Centre (MTU Cork).