Each year, approximately 330,000 tonnes of edible food never make it off farms, often going to waste or being used as animal feed. However, a new £15 million government initiative aims to
change that, ensuring surplus food like brussels sprouts and potatoes reaches those in need.
This funding will support the collection and redistribution of farm-fresh food by charities, addressing the challenges they face in accessing and transporting surplus produce. Grants starting from £20,000 will be available to not-for-profit organisations across England, helping to bridge the gap between farms and food charities.
Fighting food waste and hunger
The initiative aims to reduce farm food waste while supporting charitable organisations such as food banks, homeless shelters, and other community groups. By connecting farmers with charities, the program will ensure nutritious, surplus food is redirected to those in need, particularly during the festive season when food insecurity can be especially challenging.
The funding will also benefit farmers by lowering their waste management costs and enhancing the capacity of redistribution charities to handle farm surplus.
Ministerial and sector support
Circular Economy Minister Mary Creagh said:“With families gathering to celebrate Christmas and the New Year, it’s important to remember those in our communities who may be going hungry this festive period. Nobody wants to see good food go to waste – especially farmers who work hard to put food on family tables across the country.
Our new fund will help the charitable sector to work more closely with farmers, helping to find new opportunities to get their world-leading produce to those most in need within our communities”.
In a joint statement, Charlotte Hill, CEO of The Felix Project, and Kris Gibbon-Walsh, CEO of FareShare, said:
“After years of campaigning by food redistribution charities, we are thrilled to see this fund come to fruition. We are pleased that the government has recognised that too much food goes to waste on our farms, and that it should be redistributed to feed people who need it.
We look forward to acting quickly with the government, the charity sector, and farmers to maximise the impact of this initiative during British growing season, ensuring surplus food reaches as many people as possible. We have a proven model which funds farmers to redistribute their unsold food, which means that together, we can take meaningful steps toward achieving a zero-waste Britain”.
Harriet Lamb, CEO of global environmental NGO WRAP, said:
“This is welcome support for farmers and redistribution organisations ensuring more quality food is rescued and can support more people and communities, while reducing the environmental impact of food waste on climate change.
It gives a flying start to the New Year, ensuring that food charities and the farming sector can both make a difference immediately and can develop long term solutions. Every year, the amount of surplus food being redistributed is going up, but sadly the need is also increasing so this gives a much-needed boost. Last year, 191,000 tonnes of food from retailers, food manufacturers, the hospitality sector and UK farms - worth £764 million - was redistributed with the potential to make 450 million meals”.
A circular economy vision
This initiative aligns with the UK Government’s broader Plan for Change, promoting economic stability, rural growth, and environmental sustainability. A Circular Economy Taskforce has been established to guide the development of a national strategy aimed at reducing waste and fostering growth.
Additionally, the Courtauld Commitment 2030, managed by WRAP, continues to drive progress toward sustainable supply chains, reduced food waste, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions.
Further details about the fund’s eligibility and application process will be announced in the New Year, marking a step forward in tackling food waste and hunger in England.