Charities to get £15m fund to avoid wasting surplus farm meals

Charities, meals banks and homeless shelters are to obtain entry to a £15m fund from the federal government to assist use surplus farm meals.

Set to be launched in 2025 the scheme will give grants of £20,000 or extra to the not-for-profit meals redistribution sector in England.

It continues a pledge by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s predecessor Rishi Sunak to launch a meals waste prevention fund.

The federal government estimates round 330,000 tonnes of edible meals a yr are wasted or used for animal feed.

The scheme goals to assist these teams safe new tools – like hoppers and balers – or to coach workers and arrange new expertise to allow them to get meals that may be wasted to those that want it most.

Labour’s Round Financial system Minister Mary Creagh stated: “With households gathering to have fun Christmas and the New 12 months, it is essential to recollect these in our communities who could also be going hungry this festive interval.

“No one desires to see good meals go to waste – particularly farmers who work onerous to place meals on household tables throughout the nation.”

The heads of two meals redistribution charities stated they have been “thrilled” the fund had come to fruition after years of campaigning and have been wanting to act rapidly to maximise its influence through the British rising season.

Charlotte Hill and Kris Gibbon-Walsh, chief executives of charities The Felix Undertaking and FareShare, stated they have been “thrilled” that the fund had been introduced after years of campaigning.