2.1 Provide grant support for surplus redistribution from farms

The UK lags behind other countries when it comes to the percentage of total surplus that we redistribute: the USA redistributes three times more, while France and Spain manage twice as much.⁴² All three governments provide support for food redistribution organisations, along with other measures outlined in this Manifesto. If we are to replicate their success, the UK government must enshrine similar measures.

In February 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced £15 million in funding for redistributing edible surplus farm produce. The move followed a multi-year campaign by FareShare and London partners The Felix Project, which gained cross-party, public and industry support.^43,44

However, while this funding is extremely welcome, it is a one-off commitment. To ensure continuity for this vital work, the government should increase, extend, and protect this grant support.

We already have a model for success to build on. In 2019-20 the £15 million Defra Food Waste Fund, a pilot designed to help with the cost of harvesting, storing and transporting food that would otherwise have been wasted, was enormously successful in achieving its aims. 

As part of this pilot, FareShare put a £1.9 million grant to use for our Surplus with Purpose scheme, delivering 4,447 tonnes of food to charities across the UK. The scheme was particularly successful at preventing fresh fruit and vegetables from going to waste, not only reducing emissions but helping communities across the country access nutritious, healthy food.⁴⁵

The trial enabled us to redistribute enough food to supply 10.5 million meals to people who needed them. Thanks to FareShare’s incredible supporters, the Surplus with Purpose scheme has so far been able to continue, with self-raised funding of approximately £3 million a year. 

Ring-fenced government funding for a sector-wide programme like this would ensure the long-term sustainability of these schemes. Charities across the surplus food redistribution sector are already collaborating, which will ensure funds are put to use within a collective sourcing strategy that will prevent overlap and streamline processes. We believe this approach will provide the government with the best value for money while delivering the most food to those in need.

Beyond the recently announced £15 million in funding, £25 million a year would enable surplus food redistribution organisations to deliver 42,500 tonnes of surplus food – enough to provide 100 million meals – to communities in need across the country. And with the infrastructure, knowhow and relationships with food businesses and charities already in place, we could deliver quickly and scale over time, with the ultimate aim of redistributing all unpreventable farm level surplus. 

There is clear economic and social value to be gained from this policy. In areas of high deprivation, where the majority of FareShare’s charities operate, fresh fruit and vegetables can be particularly hard to access.⁴⁶ FareShare’s proven ability to get fresh, healthy food to where it is needed most leads to significant improvements in health, and savings of over £50 million for the NHS and other key services.⁴⁷

Through the charities and community groups who put this food to use, each extra meal can mean a life transformed – whether it’s an isolated older person needing one less trip to the GP, or someone facing addiction being able to seek help. This is a policy with popular support: 88% of people believe surplus food should be donated and 78% think the Government should do more to help charities access food.⁴⁸