This article was originally published by the Royal Gazette
A tech founder is launching a cloud-based mobile application to tackle what he described as a food-distribution crisis in Bermuda.
Aymori Duncan has worked on the free app Catch of the Day since 2022 to reduce food waste by enabling establishments such as supermarkets, hotels, cafés and restaurants to sell overstocked food at a discounted price, hours before it is thrown away.
He invited businesses to partner with his organisation to help them reduce waste by connecting them with those in need, to make sure that charities and food banks can receive surplus food donations.
In 2019, the World Bank reported that Bermuda produces more individual waste than any other country, with an estimated 4.56 kilograms a person every day, based on figures from 2012.
Mr Duncan added: “The island's landscape further compounds the crisis, with a prevailing notion that charities should simply accept what's given, leading to glaring imbalances in food distribution.”
Statistics
29 per cent of Bermuda residents are food insecure [according to the Non-Profit Alliance]
10 per cent are dangerously food insecure [Non-Profit Alliance]
67,000 tonnes of waste is discarded in Bermuda annually. A quarter of this comprises organic matter [from government environmental compendiums]
811 people are experiencing homelessness [recorded by Home as at December 31, 2023]
He added: “While some organisations are overwhelmed with surplus provisions, others struggle to meet the barest necessities, perpetuating inequalities across parishes and communities. “This unequal distribution exacerbates disparities, leaving vulnerable populations at the mercy of chance rather than equitable support.
“Catch of the Day is offering a lifeline. Through our innovative mobile application, one of our missions is to strive to bridge the gap between surplus and scarcity, connecting local vendors with those in need.“We seek not only to merely redistribute food but to revolutionise the way Bermuda addresses food waste and insecurity.
“By leveraging technology and community engagement, we aim to create a more equitable and sustainable future for all.” Mr Duncan said that the food distribution crisis demonstrated an urgent need for systemic change.
He added: “Any wholesaler, supermarket, hotel, restaurant, conglomerate chain and charity please reach out. “We are seeking to make food less costly, save you time and resources, gain profit from the food that would have otherwise been wasted and foster in more efficient practices that allow more transparent donations to the community with a simple, user-friendly app.”
It was hoped that charities will use Catch of the Day to receive surplus food donations, increasing their capacity to serve the island’s most vulnerable.The app will also have a volunteer feature that will enable charities to increase their outreach and impact.
Mr Duncan believed that his venture would be covered by the Good Samaritan (Food Donation) Act 2015. The Act aimed to provide protection against liability for organisations that donate food to the needy.
Its supporters believed the legislation meant that restaurants, hotels and supermarkets that prepared food would feel able to donate leftovers to charity.Mr Duncan said: “The Act covers that companies, as long as they are not completely negligent, should not be vicariously liable for food that they are going to give away.“If it is before its expiry date and you are giving it to a charity, it shouldn’t be a problem.” The Catch of the Day website said: “By offering discounted food, it cuts waste, supports communities and tracks environmental footprints making it a win-win for all.”
Mr Duncan hoped to roll out a pilot version of the app by June and to launch the full product on World Food Day on October 16.
At that point, the app is expected to be available on Play Store or the App Store.
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