UCD project that transforms food waste into usable ingredients awarded €5m in funding

5 March 2026

^{Gearóid O’Riain, Circular Food Co.; Lorraine Allen, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science; Dr Emma Feeney, UCD Institute of Food and Health; Dr Tony Callaghan, Somatech; Dr Nessa Noronha, UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and Centre Director of FHI; Dr Tim Yeomans, Munster Technological University}

A project coordinated by Dr Emma Feeney from the UCD Institute of Food and Health has been awarded €5 million in funding by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

The TRANSFORM project will use state-of-the-art bioprocessing to upcycle agri-food waste, such as brewers’ spent grain, into high-value usable ingredients.

The funding was granted under the EU Just Transition Fund Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative.

TRANSFORM is a collaboration between UCD, Munster Technological University, Teagasc, and industry partners SomaTech Ltd and Circular Food Co., supported by the Food for Health Ireland public-private partnership.

Demonstration of the process will take place at Circular Food Co.’s sustainable food facility in Tullamore, using a one-tonne commercial-scale system.

“This funding will enable us to bring together expertise across food science, nutrition, biotechnology and industry to re-imagine food side-streams as valuable resources,” explained Dr Feeney.

“Through TRANSFORM, we aim to develop innovative ingredients and processes that reduce waste while supporting Ireland’s transition to a more sustainable bioeconomy. 

Having previously been a Principal Investigator in the Food for Health Ireland technology centre, it is especially rewarding to see the expertise and networks developed there now coming together in projects like TRANSFORM, to continue the mission of valorising Irish food ingredients.”

As well as being sustainable, the ingredients generated by TRANSFORM will be designed to improve the taste and nutritional value of the food we eat.

The project aims to create or sustain up to 50 new jobs in the Offaly region across biomanufacturing and logistics.

One of its wider goals is to help the Midlands move away from peat and toward a low-carbon economy that supports local businesses and short supply chains.

By: Rebecca Hastings, Digital Journalist, UCD University Relations

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