SECAD Launches Free Sustainability Training Programme for Food Businesses across South and West Cork

SECAD Launches Free Sustainability Training Programme for Food Businesses across South and West Cork

Pictured at the launch of the new SECAD Programme which kicks off next month were (l to r) Suzanne Kearney, Assistant CEO at SECAD; James Hogan, (Trainer), The Clean Technology Centre (MTU) and 

Keelin Tobin, (Trainer), The Clean Technology Centre (MTU). 

 

Free Practical Training Programme for Small, Medium and Artisan food producers to understand and commit to more sustainable business practices.

 

Food Business owners across South and West Cork will be eager to sign up to SECAD Partnership CLG’s newly announced and free Sustainable Food Training Programme which kicks off next month. The programme (which has limited spaces) has been developed with Small, Medium and Artisan food (and beverage) producers in mind and aims to educate and empower these businesses in various areas where they may be experiencing challenges regarding sustainability.

 

Having identified challenges faced by food and beverage producers in relation to sustainability such as; sustainable sourcing and supply chain practices, packaging, energy, water and waste, consumer education, carbon emissions, renewable energy and climate change, the trainers of SECAD’s Sustainable Food Training Programme, will share expert knowledge and advice based on years of professional experience in these areas.

 

In line with the Global Sustainable Development Goal 12.3: “By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.” Ireland has committed, through the Food Waste Charter, to take responsibility and actions towards achieving this goal. Businesses, Industry leaders and individuals are encouraged to prioritize the prevention of Food Waste at every point within the supply chain. With that in mind, SECAD have developed this training programme which will give practical guidance to food business owners, so that they can further pursue environmentally conscious actions within their business operations.

 

The modules covered in the training programme will include:

1. Sustainability – The What and The How (To include green finance and green procurement)
2. Our Food and Our Environment
3. Resource Efficiency (Managing energy, water and waste)
4. Climate Change – Measure your Carbon Footprint
5. Communication – Engaging the Marketplace – Understanding Consumer Behaviour and Sustainable Consumption
6. Circular Economy Proposition Design
7. Managing Food Waste
8. Building a Sustainability Culture – Engaging Employees & Suppliers
9. Packaging, Storage, Transport & Distribution: Sustainable Supply Chain Design
10. Design Thinking, Innovation & Sustainability

 

Speaking about the launch of this new training programme, Assistant CEO of SECAD Suzanne Kearney said:

 

“Globally, more than one quarter of food produced is wasted, with food loss and waste contributing 8 to 10% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Now, more so than ever before, it is vital that we all do our level best in being as sustainable as possible, and we here at SECAD are committed to doing just that. We are delighted to see such a high level of interest in this training programme so far. It will be undeniably beneficial to food and beverage businesses to enable them to become more sustainable, resilient and to gain competitive advantage in the market. This will also have a positive knock-on effect in their communities and the food producing sector in the region. The content of the training programme will be delivered by leading experts in their respective areas, and we are thrilled to have such talented and experienced industry professionals onboard.”

 

Experienced trainers on the course will include professionals from SustHub; one of Ireland’s leading Corporate Sustainability and Circular Economy companies, The Clean Technology Centre (CTC) based at Munster Technological University; providing consultancy to organisations in all key areas of sustainability, and finally Change by Degrees; a sustainability consultancy with over 20 years international experience in climate and environment strategy, communications and employee and customer engagement.  

 

This programme will run from April 2021 to November 2021(with a break across July and August) and attendees will take part in the following:

 

• 10 x 3-hour training modules (delivered online)
• Site visits to businesses considered to be pursuing best practice in the area of sustainability and/or resource efficiency (subject to COVID 19 government restrictions)
• One to one training as relevant to their business needs
• Networking opportunities with food businesses

The closing date to sign up for this free course is Monday the 5^th of April 2021, with training starting on Wednesday the 14^th of (South Cork) and Friday the 16^th (West Cork). Places are limited and business owners are encouraged to log on to www.secad.ie/food to register for a place now. #SustainableFood

 

Companies that wish to participate in this training programme must satisfy the following criteria:

• Be based within SECAD’s operational area:
• https://leadersouthcork.com/index.php/find-local-development-company/
• https://leaderwestcork.com/index.php/find-local-development-group/
• Be registered as a food producer.
• Be trading for a period of no less than 6 months.
• Commit to a company representative attending each of the ten modules.

 

The Sustainable Food Training Programme South & West Cork is funded under The LEADER Food initiative which is jointly managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Approvals for the awards of funding under this initiative are made by Cork County Council’s LEADER Local Action Groups which are a subgroup of the Local Community Development Committees. (LCDCs)

press release

COMPOSTABLE TAKE-AWAY BOXES TO CUT FOOD WASTE FOR IRISH BUSINESSES

Media release

From left: Tanya Fitzgerald, SECAD; James Hogan Savour Food Programme Manager, Clean Technology Centre, CIT; and Gillian Kearney, Bramley Lodge. Photo by Adrian
Connolly.

COMPOSTABLE TAKE-AWAY BOXES TO CUT FOOD WASTE FOR IRISH BUSINESSES
Businesses across Munster commit to reduce food waste

100 compostable boxes to be provided free of charge to participating
food businesses

Irish food businesses waste 150,000 tonnes of food every year.


A new initiative is encouraging businesses in Munster to reduce food
waste.


The Savour Food initiative supports food businesses to reduce their
waste and their latest project sees restaurants provide take-away food
boxes to consumers who would like to bring their leftovers home with
them.


In a further move to promote sustainability, the food boxes are 100%
compostable.


This initiative will allow participating businesses to reduce food waste
while raising awareness around food waste amongst staff and customers.
It is estimated that Irish food businesses waste 150,000 tonnes of food
every year.


Businesses involved in the initiative so far include The Bramley Lodge
in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork and The Yarn Café at Carebright in Bruff, Co.
Limerick. Additional Savour Food businesses can be viewed on
https://savourfood.ie/members/


James Hogan, Programme Manager said: “In Ireland we waste a million
tonnes of food waste every year, which is a huge shame. For the food
service sector, accurate portion control is a key part of reducing waste
and reducing costs. However there will be times when the customer will
not eat all that's on their plate. We want to see this food going to a
good home rather than being wasted.”


Five facts about food waste in Ireland


It is estimated that every year the Irish food sector wastes 150,000
tonnes of food.

The main sources of food waste in the Irish food service sector are
plate waste (38%), preparation waste (35%) and unserved food waste
(27%).

A proportion of ‘unavoidable’ food waste comes from peelings and
off-cuts. On average, this waste accounts for just 25% of food waste
thrown away.

Food waste has been calculated to cost €2.73 - €3.50 per kilogram.

If food waste cannot be prevented, donating or distributing to people is
the next best option. More information is available from the Food Safety
Authority of Ireland.


Information from the Less Food Waste More Profit publication by the
Clean Technology Centre at:
https://ctc-cork.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/LFWMP-Web.pdf


About Savour Food


Savour Food is a food waste reduction initiative for business. The Clean
Technology Centre (CIT), SECAD and Ballyhoura Development CLG have
joined forces to assist businesses to cut food waste costs.


Savour Food supports food processors, food retailers and those in the
food service industry based in East Cork, Clonakilty and Ballyhoura
regions.


The pilot programme is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and
the Marine from the Department’s Rural Innovation and Development Fund
and available to businesses free of charge.


https://savourfood.ie

FEAST Launch. Amazing Week Coming Soon

FEAST Launch

Amazing Week Coming Soon

Cork County Mayor, Declan Hurley, was in the Malthouse of the Midleton Distillery last Tuesday to help launch FEAST, the East Cork Food and Drink Festival. The Mayor, well used to the Taste of West Cork Festival, encouraged those involved in FEAST to keep it local.

Kevin Aherne spoke on behalf of FEAST and he too stressed that provenance had to be a key factor in the festival. Not too much point in a local food festival unless the local food and drink is at the heart of it.

This is the first time that the former Midleton festival has been marketed as FEAST and the hope is to spread it even further in the East Cork area in the future. And to do that, even more sponsorship will be necessary. 

For now, the committee are grateful for the help coming from Irish Distillers, Cork County Council, Secad, Red FM, Taste Cork, Ireland’s Ancient East, Jim Crowley, Midleton Park Hotel, Market Green, Ballymaloe Relish, East Cork Journal, Pallas, Sage, Cully & Sully and Wiser Recycling.

The cooperative spirit behind the venture was well illustrated on the menu for the evening and we enjoyed a lovely four course meal in the Malthouse. The Farmgate produced the starter, a delicious combination of Ballycotton Seafood smoked salmon, crushed mint potato salad, caper and citrus dressing.

No shortage of wine as the evening progressed to the Ferrit and Lee main course: Beef feather blade marinated with Jameson, fondant potato, celeriac purée, roast onion, baby carrots and thyme jus. Perfect.

Conversation left and right at this stage, live music too, as dessert appeared, courtesy of Sage: Sixty four per cent Midleton chocolate delice, brittle, butterscotch. Say no more!

And on then to the Malthouse cheese board: Ballinrostig Gouda, Bo Rua Cheddar, and Ballymaloe Chutney. And we finished as we had started. With whiskey. On arrival, there was the perfect Jameson serve with ginger ale and lime. And the finalé was a glass of Black Barrel, one of my favourites from Jameson, so called because the barrels are well charred!

Thanks to Irish Distillers, John Wall, Frank Murphy, Village Greengrocer and Wilkies Chocolate, who also had an input in the meal.

Time for the taxis then and to look forward to the big week that begins on Monday, September 4th. You can see the daily highlights here http://www.corkbilly.com/2017/08/feast-in-east-midleton-festival-expands.html, lots of evening meals.

But the closing Saturday, beginning in Midleton at 11.00am is a big day and is indeed billed as the major event. The main street will be packed with stalls and, this year, you’ll have a long table to sit down, relax and eat some of the goodies on sale. No doubt there’ll be tasty bites too from the restaurant tent and the farmers market. And the children will have their own area with music shows, puppets and amusements.

And the FEAST demo marquee has a long list of demos including one with Justin Greene on Bertha’s Revenge Gin, a sourdough demo by top baker Patrick Ryan, a seafood masterclass by Ciaran Scully, an invite to her kitchen by Lilly Higgins and then a East v West cook-off between Kevin Aherne and Marin Shanahan (Fishy Fishy).

If you still have any energy left, then get yourself into the courtyard in Sage on Sunday for a #12 mile BBQ with music, fun and a “BBQ that Midleton has never seen before”.

September sunshine on the menu. (Sage photo)

Food for throught at Cork Seminar

WOMEN IN BUSINESS MAKING CONNECTIONS WITH SECAD

Annie's Roasts, a regular at markets,supported by South & East Cork Area Development (SECAD).

Deirdre Collins of Dee’s Wholefoods, who appeared on Dragon’s Den last year, will talk about building her business of vegetarian ready meals from farmers’ markets to a now national brand available in all major retailers in Ireland & UK when SECAD hosting their annual regional seminar for the Catalyst Women in Business Project on 21st November in the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Little Island.  An amazing line up of successful women in business is likely to draw women interesting in starting up their own business, or those already in business.

Deidre O’Shaughnessy, Editor of Cork Independent and regular Newstalk radio and TV contributor will talk about making connections and building relationships for your profile and business across all sectors.

“This year, we decided to choose ‘Making Connections’ as the seminar theme.  Through our work in the South and East region, we know how important it is to network with other people in business who have the potential to become partners, customers or who can provide personal referrals. This is why we have decided to theme this event around making connections” said Sinéad Conroy, SECAD.

Over the past two years SECAD has co-ordinated numerous networking events, organised mentoring and organised training courses specifically for women in business to support business women and aspiring female entrepreneurs.  One of the key objectives of the Catalyst project is to provide opportunities for women in business to make connections which will help them to grow and develop their businesses.

 “We are delighted that Dee will be providing us with some “food for thought” around how to connect with potential customers” added Sinéad Conroy, SECAD. For further details on this event and to secure your place now please email Sinéad Conroy at sconroy@secad.ie or call 021.4613432.