Primary food production, including farming and fishing, is a major part of Ireland’s economy. This sector is heavily reliant on our environment so the impacts of food waste and loss are very much local.
Similar to many other countries internationally, there is very little quantified data on the levels of waste generated in these sectors. While primary food production is a very diverse sector, some of the common drivers of food loss and waste include:
- Product specifications (e.g. size, cosmetic standards)
- Lack of access to market or processing facilities
- Price volatility resulting in commodity price too low to cover harvest cost
- Premature or delayed harvesting
- Adverse weather conditions
- Damaged or low grade product
- Food affected by pests, animals or disease
- Lack of storage facilities, including lack of cold storage
- Spoilage due to inappropriate storage, treatment and handling
- Poor harvesting technique
Relevant resources
Food Losses And Waste In Fisheries
Why and how food losses occur in the fisheries sector and what the Food and Agriculture of the United Nations is doing about it.
play video
Selling Through Farmers Markets
A one stop guide for selling through farmers markets, farm shops and box schemes in Ireland
download Food is Life
Video produced for Timorese audience to create awareness on food losses and food waste
play video Bord Bia Sustainability Report 2016
Origin Green, part of Bord Bia the Irish Food Boards 2016 sustainability report for Irish food and Horticulture
downloadThe role of packaging in minimising food waste
RMIT University Study Reveals how Packaging can Reduce Food Waste in the Supply Chain
read now Video: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s war over wonky veg, BBC 2015
Video: Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's war over wonky veg, BBC 2015
play video FAO, 2011, Global food losses and food waste
FAO, 2011, Global food losses and food waste – Extent, causes and prevention
download Food losses and waste in primary production
Food losses and waste in primary production: Data collection in the Nordic countries.
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