This project, in conjunction with Kilkenny LEADER Partnership, involves a feasibility study to explore the viability of establishing a Food Waste Hub in Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.

It is estimated that approximately 17,500 tonnes of food waste are produced annually in Kilkenny across households, retail, production, and restaurants. A key element of EU policy aims to reduce food waste through community projects, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 to halve per capita food waste by 2030. This initiative also supports Kilkenny LEADER Partnership’s (KLP) Local Development Strategy, specifically Strategic Action 8.2 – developing regional food hubs.

The Urlingford region, located just off the motorway between Dublin and Cork, has been identified as a promising location for this development, serving Kilkenny, Laois, and Tipperary. A Food Waste Hub aims to reduce food waste and address food insecurity within the community by collecting, storing, and redistributing surplus food to charities and organisations. This initiative is expected to have both social and economic benefits, operating as a social enterprise governed by a voluntary Board of Directors.