Eday has been awarded £5,000 of funding to research how a sustainable, and potentially commercial, approach to reducing food waste could operate in an island community.

Nearly £60,000 worth of funding from the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Williamson Trust will be given to 12 research projects in communities across Scotland:  in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Inverness, Campbeltown, Fife, Lewis, Orkney and Perth.

The project by The Eday Partnership will explore the different options available – such as different forms of composting – in a small community which is unable to achieve the same economy of scale as more populated areas. The findings will then be replicable across other isles in Orkney and rural areas across Scotland.

Recently, the Eday Growing Group appointed Alun Jones as the Growing Manager to oversee the implementation and management of a polycrub.

Alun explained:

“The community is really focussed on the transition to net zero, and with no waste recycling on the island, this grant funding is going to be pivotal for the community, not only in terms of supporting the community growing project but also in terms of dealing with waste in an island setting.

“We are absolutely delighted to receive this award and cannot wait to explore options for a composting solution that is going to benefit the whole community. We aim to develop something that can be rolled out in similar community environments – all visitors to Eday are welcome to visit our growing area.”

This is the first year that the Healthy Planet, Healthy People awards have been given out. Originally only ten awards were planned, however the strength of the applications was such that a further two projects will now be supported.

Professor David E Salt FRSE, chair of the Williamson Trust said:

“I speak for all the trustees when I say we were incredibly excited to see the very strong response we got from communities across Scotland.

“From food waste, the right to food and cooperative local growing, to rebuilding biodiversity and land rights, community street play, urban forests, and climate conversations as street theatre. The Trust hopes this seed funding will deliver real change and lead to larger impacts going into the future. We are very excited to be working with these communities across Scotland to help them make a new and better future.”

The Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Williamson Trust have given their support to several new community-led research projects in Inverness, Orkney and Lewis which will promote the health of individuals by fostering healthy communities, healthy environments, and healthy food.

RSE Vice President, Research, Professor Anne Anderson OBE FRSE said:

“This is the first time that the RSE has supported this type of research, as the Society broadens its range of research awards, and I feel that it is vital that we do so.

“The health of the individual and the health of the environment are inextricably linked, and it is my hope that these awards will now provide a boost to these exciting research groups which will lead to improvements in both. I very much look forward to following their progress and achievements over the next 12 months.”