Deadline: 3 April 2020
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has provided support under the Rural Innovation Development Fund for 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.
A call for proposals is being issued with the objective of providing funding to activities or items that relate to the promotion and/or development of innovative food waste reduction projects in 2020.
The Call for Proposals relates to the provision of services for the support of food waste reduction projects which are designed to reduce food waste generated by food businesses, retailers/wholesalers or suppliers in rural areas.
Whilst there is not a definitive list of projects, it is envisaged that one or more of the following elements will be included in the proposal:
- Establish and develop links with food businesses, retailer/wholesalers and/or suppliers with food waste reduction opportunities in rural areas;
- Development of a best practice model for food waste reduction which support new individuals or organisations looking to reduce food waste or support existing individuals or organisations already involved in food waste reduction;
- Initiatives that are open and visible to the public and will thus raise awareness and promote food waste reduction to a wider audience in rural areas;
- Proposals which have the potential to be scaled-up, have a national reach/benefit and that will be self-sustaining;
- Projects that link with and have synergies with national policy/strategy on food waste reduction;
- Allow eligible existing food waste reduction projects to continue, to maximise their potential and/or expand
- Assist rural communities who have already taken verifiable steps to establish food waste reduction schemes to progress to opening stage.
Funding Information
- A total funding amount of up to €300,000 is available under this current expenditure provision for 2020.
- The maximum amount that will be paid to any project is €100,000.
Ineligible Activities and Funding
- Funding for capital expenditure will not be considered.
- Fees, expenses, travel and subsistence or other personal remuneration to clients or proposers will not be eligible for funding under this scheme.
Note: Costs incurred as a result of the application process will also not be eligible for funding under this scheme.
Eligibility Criteria
This Call for Proposals is open to food waste reduction initiatives which fulfil the following criteria:
- Are situated in rural areas outside the administrative boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford;
- Are up and running and currently operating or have taken steps to be operational in 2020 and is or will be active in rural communities;
- Can demonstrate that their proposal is, or can be, sufficiently advanced to allow final payment to be correctly made by the Department by end 2020 at the latest;
- Can demonstrate the funding is for current expenditure (i.e. is not for capital expenditure);
- Can demonstrate the organisations economic and financial standing to prove that the organisation is financially sound. Applicants must declare in the submission that they can provide evidence supporting their financial standing (i.e. a copy of the organisations audited accounts for the last 3-years);
- Can demonstrate the organisation’s or project team’s technical and professional ability to deliver the proposed initiative. Applicants must declare in the submission that they can provide evidence supporting their technical and professional ability (i.e. a copy of academic/professional qualifications and / or evidence of experience for the last 3 years in delivering relevant projects);
- Can demonstrate that the organisation is tax compliant;
How to Apply
Applications on the attached official application form must be submitted electronically at the address given on the website.
For more information, visit https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/agri-foodindustry/agri-foodandtheeconomy/cedraschemes/foodwastereduction/