The UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has introduced a £15 million fund to address on-farm food waste by supporting the redistribution of surplus produce to food banks and charities. This initiative will provide grants ranging from £20,000 to £100,000 for non-profit organizations involved in food distribution, allowing them to purchase equipment like refrigerated vehicles and storage facilities to manage the surplus. The goal is to reduce food waste on farms and help address food insecurity by ensuring edible produce reaches those in need instead of being discarded.
The funding comes as food banks face unprecedented demand. According to the Trussell Trust, food parcel distributions rose by 37% between 2021 and 2022, with a 4% increase in 2023. In addition to alleviating hunger, the initiative aims to combat environmental impacts by reducing the carbon footprint of food waste. With over 1.4 million tonnes of food wasted on UK farms annually, this fund is part of a broader effort to create a more sustainable food system and reduce waste across the supply chain. More