Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 11 October 2023

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Challenges Facing the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: Discussion

Mr. Mike Neary:

The programme that FoodCloud piloted last year was called the growers' initiative. It is on the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, website. FoodCloud collected 30 tonnes last year. It is now rolling out a full programme and hoping to target 60 tonnes this year. Horticulture is one of the challenges. Because growers are spread around different areas, the questions are where to bring the waste and how to get it to the market. FoodCloud is connecting local communities and groups with individual growers who might have produce to dispose of. Initiatives such as that are important. FoodCloud is doing commendable work in that space.