Defra Unveils £15 Million Fund to Combat Food Waste at the Farm Level

Charities across the UK have lauded the government’s announcement of £15 million in funding to redirect surplus food to those in need. This initiative, expected to save up to 60 million meals, marks a critical step toward reducing food waste and combating hunger.

According to government estimates, approximately 330,000 tonnes of edible food are wasted or repurposed as animal feed before it leaves UK farms every year. The newly confirmed fund, originally pledged by Rishi Sunak in February 2024 but delayed by the general election, aims to address this inefficiency.

The funding will empower charities that redistribute surplus food, many of which lack the resources to collect it from farms and distribute it to needy communities. The money can be used to purchase essential equipment like balers or hoppers to handle bulky food items, invest in new technology, or provide training for additional staff.

A Lifeline for Charities Fighting Hunger

The Felix Project and FareShare, two prominent charities addressing food waste and hunger, have welcomed the funding. They emphasised its potential to move the UK closer to becoming a zero-waste society.

Charlotte Hill, the Felix Project’s chief executive, said it is a “scandal to see food grown on UK farms going to waste, especially given the increasing number of people experiencing food insecurity”.

“This £15m funding has the potential to unlock huge supplies of healthy and nutritious produce and help the Felix Project deliver even more meals in 2025”, she added.

“The Felix Project found 1 in 8 working London families use a food bank every week to help feed their children. We deliver to around 1,200 community organisations, all working hard to feed people living with food insecurity, but the demand is so much more.

“We have a long waiting list of organisations desperately wanting food, but we do not have it to give.”

Rising Demand for Food Banks

The funding comes amid a sustained increase in the demand for food banks across the UK. The Trussell Trust, a leading anti-poverty charity, reported a 37% rise in food parcel distribution between 2021/22 and 2022/23, with a further 4% increase in 2023/24.

In a joint statement from Ms Hill and FareShare’s chief executive Kris Gibbon-Walsh, the two charities 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."

They added: "We look forward to acting quickly with the government, the charity sector, and farmers to maximise the impact of this initiative during British growing season, ensuring surplus food reaches as many people as possible.

“We have a proven model which funds farmers to redistribute their unsold food, which means that together, we can take meaningful steps toward achieving a zero-waste Britain."

Defra estimates the initiative could save 27,000 tonnes of food annually, equivalent to 60 million meals. The initiative addresses food insecurity and environmental concerns by supporting charities with the tools and resources needed to collect and redistribute food effectively.

With this funding, charities like The Felix Project and FareShare are poised to make an even more significant impact, ensuring that excellent food doesn’t go to waste but helps those most in need.