An app designed to reduce or even eliminate food insecurity in Bermuda is set to launch in the wake of a fundraising campaign.

Catch of the Day is the creation of Aymori Duncan, who claims his model will “transform how food is distributed across the island”.

It aims to bridge the gap between food waste and food insecurity by allowing food banks, restaurants and grocery stores to share surplus food.

Mr Duncan plans to reach those in need “without stigma or barriers”.

The app was to be released earlier, but Mr Duncan decided to wait until after the island’s attention had shifted from the General Election last month.

Mr Duncan, who was raised in Bermuda and experienced food insecurity first-hand, told The Royal Gazette: “Too often, food is wasted while families go hungry. This app creates a structured, efficient way to make food access private, dignified and fair.

“I will use crowdfunding as a source to pilot the application. In the next few weeks, that looks to put a major dent in food insecurity. The app will be raising funds on Kickstarter, and it has a two-minute YouTube video explaining the entire process. Its main concept is if you can’t afford food, how can I help you find food or make it cheaper in the easiest way possible?

“I will also be conducting interviews to gain different perspectives from the community.

“The whole purpose is to show the human element of food insecurity — highlighting that these issues impact people much closer to us than we might think.

“Additionally, while the solution I’m working on is one approach, it is not the only one.”

The Kickstarter campaign, running until April 15, seeks funding to scale the platform, integrate food banks and on-board local vendors.

In his YouTube video, Mr Duncan explains that he was driven to launch the app as a result of his own experiences as a child with food insecurity.

He revealed that his mother suffered from schizophrenia and that he left Bermuda at age 14 to live with his grandparents in England because he was not being fed.

He added: “I wish I had something like Catch of the Day back then. But this isn’t just my story, it’s many people’s story because hunger doesn’t quite look like what you would expect.

“It hides, it’s covered up by shame, by keeping up appearances, by the assumption that everyone’s doing fine.”

He said the app was almost complete and that in the next few weeks, he would need help from charities, stores or individuals to test a platform to the market.

He is looking for insights from those willing to try the app so he can improve it if necessary.

“I want to make sure that it is used by the people who need it the most,” he said.

Mr Duncan added: “Bermuda faces unique challenges in food access, from high import costs to limited food bank resources, making a smart, centralised solution essential.

“With its pilot launching in Bermuda, Catch of the Day has the potential to streamline food donations, reduce waste, and provide real-time access to food banks, ensuring no meal goes to waste.”

• The Kickstarter page is availablehere or by searching for “Kickstarter” and “Catch of the Day”