Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I thank Mr. Gaffey. I will return to a points I made before Mr. Gaffey joined us. It relates to packaging that could be reduced by making fruits and vegetables available in retailers on a loose basis rather than in pre-packaged lots. The example I gave was some retailers, large multiples in particular, offering stew packs, stir fry packs or similar. Clearly, one element of reducing food waste involves providing people with the sorts of products they want on demand individually. These means they select what they want and need and we do not end up with excessive food waste at the end. I ask the witnesses to comment on that element of the food circular economy and packaging.

In relation to farm surpluses and farm waste, I have concerns that there is an untapped resource in the food sector where we can make obvious gains in achieving the targets in place, which, I understand, will be difficult to achieve, notwithstanding that there are other groups we could talk to as part of the question. What are the views of the witnesses on primarily reducing but also redistributing in the event that there is unavoidable production and, therefore, unavoidable waste?

The only other comment I want to make is in regard to regulatory barriers or barriers to achieving our targets for industry as opposed to residential. In the earlier discussion, we all focused on the residential side rather than the commercial and industry side. The school meals programme, a recent initiative by the Departments of Social Protection and Education, was mentioned, but there are other examples across industry. Given the resources available to us, what are the areas in which we could improve? Do the witnesses have suggestions arising from their research or day-to-day roles in the three organisations represented?