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The UK government has unveiled a new initiative to tackle food waste at its source. The initiative aims to rescue 330,000 tonnes of edible food that would otherwise be discarded or repurposed as animal feed before leaving farms.
The Tackling Food Surplus at the Farm Gate scheme bridges the gap between farmers and charities, ensuring surplus food reaches vulnerable communities rather than going to waste. By providing grants starting at £20,000, the program will enable charities and redistribution networks to scale up their operations, directly sourcing excess produce from farms.
From 7 February 2025, applicants can submit proposals outlining their plans to:
Build stronger collaborations with farmers to access surplus food.
Expand logistical capacity to transport and distribute rescued produce efficiently.
Invest in critical infrastructure such as refrigeration, storage facilities, and transport vehicles to keep food fresh and safe for redistribution.
Procure packaging and labelling equipment to streamline the handling of surplus goods.
Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said: “Nobody wants to see good food go to waste – especially farmers who work hard to put food on our nation’s tables. This fund will help charities work more closely with farmers to create new ways to get fresh produce to the people who need it most.
“I encourage our brilliant, dedicated redistribution charities and non-profits to apply for this funding to ensure more British fruit and veg gets to those who need it most.”
In a joint statement, the CEOs of The Bread and Butter Thing, City Harvest, FareShare, The Felix Project and Co-Chairs of The Xcess Group said: “As leaders of the surplus food redistribution sector and following years of campaigning, we are delighted to welcome the launch of this fund ahead of British growing season.
“It presents an opportunity to make a profound impact by empowering local charities and community organisations. These groups are the backbone of British society, and we are proud to support them.
“By working across the charitable redistribution sector, we can help ensure that this scheme is implemented efficiently through our joint capacity, delivers tangible value to taxpayers, and helps millions of meals reach as many people as possible at a time of considerable need.”
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