London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Labour has pledged £15m to redistribute surplus farm food to charities, tackling 330,000 tonnes of waste annually and hunger across England.
Funding of at least £20,000 will be offered to not-for-profit groups in England to repackage surplus farm waste and supply it to charities, food banks, and other aid organisations.
Michael Gove initially promised this fund in 2018, and in 2024, Rishi Sunak renewed the commitment, but the plan has faced multiple delays despite ongoing efforts by charities.
As reported by The Guardian, Chef Tom Kerridge and hundreds of charities urged the Labour government this autumn to reinstate the initiative and allocate promised funds in its latest budget.
Farms discard or feed approximately 330,000 tonnes of edible food to animals annually, with charities unable to gather and deliver seasonal items like festive brussels sprouts and potatoes to people struggling.
The government’s initiative allows food distribution charities in England to apply for grants starting at £20,000, which can be used to purchase necessary equipment like balers or hoppers, upgrade technology, and provide IT training to streamline food distribution and collection.
The minister for the circular economy, Mary Creagh stated, “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.”
He added that no one wants to see valuable food go to waste, especially when it can be delivered to those in need.
Mr Creagh said this new fund will also enhance ties between farmers and charities, creating new ways to deliver surplus produce to communities facing food shortages.
Defra stated that the funding would help farmers reduce the costs of managing surplus food that would otherwise be wasted.
Charlotte Hill, CEO of The Felix Project, and Kris Gibbon-Walsh, CEO of FareShare, both leading food redistribution charities, issued a joint statement praising the newly announced grant funding proposal.
They stated, “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.”
Business Green reports that the government will share more details about the new fund, including who can apply and when applications will open, in the coming year.
Government sources confirm that the fund will contribute to efforts to develop a more circular economy in Britain, primarily focusing on repair and repurposing, as part of the Circular Economy Strategy for England, set to be published in early 2025.
Harriet Lamb, CEO of waste charity WRAP, welcomed the government’s decision to provide funds to distribute surplus farm food and stated, “More quality food is rescued and can support more people and communities, while reducing the environmental impact of food waste on climate change”.
She added, “Every year, the amount of surplus food being redistributed is going up, but sadly the need is also increasing.”
Ms Lamb said in the past year, 191,000 tonnes of food, worth £764 million, were repurposed from British farms and retailers, with the capacity to produce 450 million meals.
The Food Foundation warned in January 2024 that food poverty is on the rise, with 15% of UK households experiencing hunger or skipping meals, despite an abundance of food being wasted in landfills.
Defra’s £15 million fund marks an essential effort to reduce food waste on farms and address hunger within the agricultural industry.