Charities including City Harvest, Food in Community and FareShare were selected for the scheme, entitled Tackling Food Surplus at the Farm Gate, which aims to strengthen the relationship between food redistribution charities and farmers.
Community kitchens, food banks, shelters and cookery projects across the country are all set to receive food through these organisations as a result of the grant scheme.
Commenting on the grant announcement, waste minister Mary Creagh said that it was evidence of the government taking action to tackle food poverty and “Britain’s throwaway culture”.
“I am delighted to see this support go to 12 outstanding redistribution charities to form closer relationships with our hard-working farmers, and ensure their good food goes to those in need,” Creagh added.
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, CEO of FareShare, and Charlotte Hill, CEO of The Felix Project, explained that they were thrilled to have been appointed as a partner to the scheme.
“This scheme will enable us to rescue more surplus from farms across England,” the pair said.
“It will ensure the charities we support, including after-school clubs, homelessness shelters, and community groups, can access thousands of tonnes of fresh produce and transform it into meals and vital support to those who need it most.”
Sarah Calcutt, CEO of City Harvest, added: “We grow a frankly amazing range of fruits and veg in this country, from berries to spuds and brassicas to salads; but the truth is, as any farmer will testify, that a significant percentage of the food we grow will go to waste; and the reasons for this waste are often around shape and size not meeting retailer specifications rather than anything to do with health or nutrition.”
David Gudgeon, head of external affairs at circular economy specialist Reconomy Connect, praised the creation of the scheme and the grant announcement.
“Initiatives like this not only offer vital support to families facing food insecurity, but also help to retain the highest possible value from our food system, preventing fresh, nutritious produce from going to waste unnecessarily,” Gudgeon said.
“Closing the circularity gap requires urgent, practical steps to keep resources in use for longer, and food surplus redistribution is a powerful example of this principle in action.”
