A new £500,000 grant from Defra was launched yesterday to tackle food waste by improving surplus distribution.
MP Thérèse Coffey announced the funds at the Courtauld Commitment 2025 Signatory Summit in London, calling on charities to apply 'to redistribute surplus food'.
Food reduction campaigners WRAP, who will administer the fund, say the grants will be given to projects aiming to overcome barriers to food redistribution.
They highlighted a need for improving food safety training, IT skills, and increasing collaborations between not-for-profit groups. They also hope new technological improvements in freezer capacity and packing and labelling facilities could help reduce waste across the country.
WRAP director Peter Maddox said: “This fund will make a huge difference to many organisations in England, and those who use their services. We’re particularly looking for new routes and fresh partnerships to get more surplus food to people in need.
“I’m keen to see expressions of interest that will increase redistribution from food manufacturers and businesses not already redistributing food, or which can significantly improve and increase existing redistribution chains. We want this fund to help make a step-change in the amount of surplus food that is redistributed to people.”
WRAP also called on applications for projects to help increase collaboration between not-for-profit groups and producers.
Funding will be awarded with the aim of making a significant increase to the amount of food redistributed, as cost-effectively as possible, and they expect grants to range from between £20,000 and £75,000.
The sustainability experts say that 10 million tonnes of food and drink is wasted every year in the UK, 60 per cent of which could be avoided.
They estimate that over 10 years redistribution of surplus food could be increased by an extra 270 million meals a year UK-wide.
For details on how to apply for a grant go to the WRAP website. All applications must be submitted by 11 May this year.
