Labour urged not to scrap £15m funding for farm waste project 

Charities are warning that a £15 million fund set up to redistribute unsold farm produce to those who need it, could be cancelled in the autumn budget.

Former PM Rishi Sunak committed to the funding and unveiled a Farm Gate Food Waste Fund at the NFU Conference in February. 

Around 2.9 million tonnes of edible farm produce that goes uneaten every year – due to being rejected by supermarkets or labour shortages, for example.

The funding announcement followed a successful campaign by two of the UK’s largest food redistribution charities, The Felix Project and FareShare. 

However, the launch of the fund was delayed by the general election, and is now in danger of being cancelled in the autumn budget. 

“Incredible chance”

The funding would allow a consortium of food charities, including FareShare, The Felix Project, the Xcess network and City Harvest, to rescue over 28,000 tonnes of food – enough for 67 million meals.

It would also more than pay for itself in the long run, delivering £100 million of social return on investment to the UK economy. 

Charlotte Hill, CEO of The Felix Project, said: “This scheme represents an incredible chance to tap into the huge quantities of nutritious food that go to waste on UK farms every year. 

“At a time when the frontline charities we deliver to are seeing more and more demand for their services, the government can’t afford to let this opportunity slip. 

“Farmers put their blood, sweat and tears into growing this food – it should be feeding the people who really need it.” 

George Wright, CEO at FareShare, added: “This funding is vital to ensuring that good-to-eat surplus food reaches the people who need it most, helping to reduce waste and strengthen the communities we serve.

“Since the announcement earlier this year, FareShare has worked hand-in-hand with a coalition of charities across the food redistribution sector to demonstrate how, together, we can tackle food waste, support those facing hunger, and drive positive social change.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Government and our charity coalition to ensure that no good food goes to waste while delivering real support to the communities that need it most.”

Waste is terrible to see 

Despite the delay to the Farmgate Surplus Initiative, The Felix Project is already rescuing surplus food through a pilot programme in Kent and Sussex. 

In the last month, it has salvaged more than 30 tonnes of apples, pears and plums from H. E. Hall & Son’s farm in Marden, Kent.  

Farm owner Peter Hall, said: “The level of wastage that happens on farms, especially small ones like ours, is terrible to see – all the more so because so many people are struggling to access fresh fruit and vegetables. 

“I encourage the new government to honour the commitment made to UK farmers and deliver on the promised funding.”

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Responding to a request for comment on the fund, a Defra spokesperson said: 

“The amount of food we waste is a stain on our country. 

“We thank food producers, charities and retailers in the sector for highlighting the problem of food waste. 

“We are also working with business to drive down food waste and make sure food is put on the plates of those in greatest need.”

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