Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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50. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work of his Department to promote the role of a circular bioeconomy to turn biowaste, residues and discards into valuable resources and incentivise the reduction of food waste along the value chain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41514/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department co-chairs the high-level Bioeconomy Implementation Group, along with  the Department of Environment Climate and Communications.  One of its key actions under the the national bioeconomy policy statement, is to examine ways of turning biowaste, nutrients, food processing residues and discards into valuable resources, by establishing the conditions required for their commercial development and viability.

Bioeconomy funding opportunities are now being provided through the relevant national research funders e.g. DAFM, EPA, SEAI and SFI.  The possibility to seek funding through the Project Ireland Innovation & Demonstration Competitive Funds such as, Climate Action and Rural Regeneration and, possibly, Disruptive Technologies, can support the translation of bioeconomy value chain research into real world applications, through promoting collaboration between research institutions and industry. These funds play a leading role in scaling up science and technological developments to industrial activity by demonstrating technical and economic feasibility and the development of previously underdeveloped value chains.  These funds can also support a pipeline of activities to lead to participation in EU funding opportunities. The opportunities include the Circular Biobased Europe Partnership, LIFE funding and also financing opportunities through the EIB Circular Bioeconomy Thematic Investment Platform.

Food loss & waste, is a separate but inter-related policy area to circular bioeconomy.  It requires steps to be taken in relation to prevention, reduction, recovery and reuse (distribution/redistribution) of avoidable waste prior to recycling and valorisation (as e.g. nutrients, feed, biobased products, renewable energy) of unavoidable waste.  My Department has provided support for three projects funded to the amount of €100,000 (excl VAT). This funding is provided under the Rural Innovation Development Fund.  It is available to organisations and economic operators involved in Food Waste Reduction, to promote reducing food waste generated by food businesses, retailer/wholesalers or suppliers in rural areas.   My Department is also engaged with the Department of Environment Climate and Communications, who lead on national food waste prevention programmes & Climate Action Plan tasks, with the aim to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030.