DREM publishes, for the first time, data on food donations received and delivered by food banks

The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) publishes today, for the first time, information on food donations received and delivered by the food bank operating in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM), with reference to the period from 2014 to 2024. This information is made available by Statistics Portugal (INE), based on data from the Portuguese Federation of Food Banks, and complemented with information provided by the Food Bank of the Autonomous Region of Madeira.

Pandemic years correspond to the highest donation values in the period 2014–2024

In 2024, the food bank operating in the ARM received 721.4 tonnes of food donations. Of these, 47.9% were "Fruit and vegetable products", followed by "Bread and cereals" at 27.0% of the total, and in third place, in order of importance, "Animal protein-based products (meat, fish, eggs and dairy products)", representing 13.0% of the total.

Of the total donations made in 2024, 69.2% originated from the "Industry, trade and distribution" sector, resulting largely from collections carried out at supermarkets, pastry shops and other distributors. At a lower level, donations from "Campaigns and donations" (15.7%) and "Agriculture" (9.1%) follow.

It should be noted that whilst donations originating from trade and distribution were predominantly "Fruit and vegetable products" (53.6%) and "Bread and cereals" (27.4%), "Campaigns and donations" were led by "Animal protein-based products" (47.1%) and "Bread and cereals" (36.7%).

Donations per capita above the national average in 2024

In 2024, the ratio between food donations and the number of inhabitants of each geographical unit shows that the Region presents a per capita value of 2.80 kg/inhabitant/year, above the national average (2.56 kg/inhabitant/year). By NUTS 2 region, Algarve leads (6.38 kg/inhabitant/year), followed by Peninsula de Setúbal (4.64 kg/inhabitant/year) and Grande Lisboa (3.24 kg/inhabitant/year). The ARM appears in fourth position among the nine regions (2.80 kg/inhabitant/year), ahead of the Norte region (2.52 kg/inhabitant/year), the Autonomous Region of the Azores (1.39 kg/inhabitant/year), Oeste e Vale do Tejo (1.19 kg/inhabitant/year), the Centro region (0.97 kg/inhabitant/year) and Alentejo (0.93 kg/inhabitant/year).

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