More than 600 charities have written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, calling on the government to save a £15m food waste fund threatened with the axe in the forthcoming budget.
The Grocer revealed last month that the money promised by the previous government to tackle farmgate food waste had been left in “limbo” because of the black hole identified in the government’s finances. The money was promised following a long-running campaign by food distribution organisations such as FareShare, as well as The Grocer.
Today it emerged 640 charities had signed an open letter to Reeves calling on her to continue with the funding. It said the fund could go towards providing up to 67 million meals a year to people in need but would go to waste without government support.
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, the new CEO at FareShare, said: “The food redistribution sector helps transform surplus food into stronger communities. These local charities turn food that would otherwise go to waste into meals, providing a gateway to other essential services that support people in need. This fund is an incredible opportunity to rescue millions of tonnes of fresh produce from our farms, and help tackle the environmental problem of food waste for social good.
“Despite the announcement in February, the Farm Gate Waste Fund is in limbo while we wait for the Treasury to commit to this funding. But the frontline charities we support cannot afford to wait.
”The prime minister has said he wants to build a ‘society of service’, and Defra want to prioritise a zero-waste economy – this fund is a great first step. We are ready to work with the government alongside the food redistribution sector to make these ambitions a reality.”
The Felix Project CEO Charlotte Hill added: “It is a scandal to see food, grown on UK farms, going to waste, especially given the increasing number of people who are experiencing food insecurity. The Felix Project recently found 56% of working London families are having to turn to a food bank to help feed their children. These places are struggling with the huge demand for support and urgently need more food.
”This funding has the potential to unlock huge supplies of healthy and nutritious produce. It could result in millions of meals going to those that need it. We are also ready to work with the government and hope they will honour the earlier commitment and demonstrate that they are serious about reducing food waste and helping those in poverty.”
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