From 2022, the European Union Waste Framework Directive (WFD) requires member states to report annual food waste from each food supply chain stage. Comprehensive food losses and waste (FLW) data can be challenging to obtain for the primary production stage, i.e., farming and fishing. However, this information is vital in developing FLW mitigation actions appropriate to each country. This study describes the nature and extent of FLW from primary production in Ireland, using methods approved for WFD reporting. Causes of FLW and FLW as a proportion of total production were determined through interviews with Irish primary production stakeholders and using national FLW data where available. The FLW was presented for each primary production sector - animal husbandry, horticulture, tillage, aquaculture, and fisheries. The total annual FLW from Irish primary production was 189,508 tonnes. The main FLW sources were vegetable production (122,398 tonnes), meat production (41,726 tonnes), and tillage (12,502 tonnes). The activities associated with high FLW did not reflect the quantity of food from those activities, e.g., dairy generated the greatest quantity of animal husbandry produce (89%) but only 7% of animal husbandry FLW. The main causes of FLW in Irish primary production were pests, disease, injuries, and production stress (37%), followed by un-harvestable or un-saleable produce, 24% and 21%, respectively. The majority of FLW described in this study (63%) is considered food loss, meaning mitigation efforts should focus on this rather than food waste. These results also clearly indicate priority areas for mitigation action, e.g., horticulture. This research suggests mitigation actions that improve long-term farm sustainability, e.g., improve soil health, reduce FLW and contribute to food production potential in fisheries and aquaculture.

Agriculture is Ireland’s largest sector with agri-food exports amounting to EUR 15.2B in 2021. However, agriculture is also Ireland’s largest contributor to GHGs, accounting for 37.4% of emissions in 2020. Developing indigenous renewable energy sources is a national objective towards reducing GHG emissions. The National Policy Statement on the Bioeconomy of Ireland advises a cascading principle of biomass use, where higher-value applications are derived from biomass before energy generation. This research quantifies and characterises biomass wastes at farms, food production, and forestry settings in counties Monaghan and Tipperary, Ireland. Value chains, along with Sankey diagrams, are presented, which identify biomass that can be exploited for valorisation and show their fates in industry/environment. The quantity of biomass wastes available for valorisation under Business as Usual (BAU) vs. Best-Case Scenario (BCS) models is presented. BCS assumes a co-operative system to increase the feedstock available for valorisation. In Monaghan, 73 t of biomass waste vs. 240 t are available for valorisation under Scenario A vs. Scenario B, respectively. In contrast, in Tipperary, a 7-fold increase in biomass waste is achieved, comparing Scenario A (126 t) against Scenario B (905 t). This highlights the importance of engaging local stakeholders to build co-operative models for biomass valorisation. Not only is this environmentally beneficial, but also socially and economically advantageous. Creating indigenous fertiliser and energy sources is important for the island of Ireland, not only in meeting market demand, but also in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and achieving emission reduction targets.