Labour government backs £15m fund to redistribute surplus farm produce, tackling food waste and hunger.
Labour Backs Plans for £15m Fund to Distribute Surplus Food from Farms
The Labour government has given its backing to a £15m fund aimed at redistributing surplus food from farms, particularly around Christmas. This move is expected to provide grants starting from £20,000 to not-for-profit food redistribution charities in England.
Tackling Food Waste and Hunger
It’s estimated that about 330,000 tonnes of edible food are thrown away by farms or fed to animals each year. Charities have long argued that they often lack the resources to collect and deliver food to those in need. The new fund will enable these charities to purchase equipment, technology, and provide IT training to help them work more efficiently.
A New Era for Food Redistribution
The government’s circular economy taskforce has been formed to develop a strategy on reducing waste across different sectors in England. One of the key goals is to halve food waste by 2030. The £15m fund will be used to support the charitable sector in working more closely with farmers, helping to find new opportunities to get their produce to those who need it most.
A Welcome Move for Charities
Mary Creagh, minister for the circular economy, said: “With families gathering to celebrate Christmas and the new year, it’s essential to remember those in our communities who may be going hungry this festive period. Our new fund will help the charitable sector to work more closely with farmers, ensuring that good food doesn’t go to waste.”
In a joint statement, Charlotte Hill of the Felix Project and Kris Gibbon-Walsh 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.”
Harriet Lamb, chief executive of Wrap, added: “This announcement gives a flying start to the new year, ensuring that food charities and the farming sector can both make a difference immediately and develop long-term solutions. Every year, the amount of surplus food being redistributed is increasing, but sadly so is the need.
