Chef Tom Kerridge is rallying support from charities to secure the long-promised £15 million fund aimed at redirecting surplus food from farms to food banks and soup kitchens nationwide.
The initiative, designed to compensate farmers for the harvesting, storage, and packaging of edible but unused food, has faced delays despite previous commitments from government officials.
Originally pledged by Michael Gove in 2018 and reiterated by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this year, the funding has yet to materialize.
Kerridge joins thousands of local charities in an open letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, urging her to include the scheme in the upcoming budget discussions.
He emphasized the importance of this initiative in addressing both food waste and food insecurity, stating, “These charities are the beating heart of their communities, and they need more food to help support people in need.”
£15 million fund could provide millions of meals for struggling families across the UK.The food redistribution effort aims to convert an estimated 67 million meals worth of surplus produce into essential resources for struggling families.
While farmers are eager to participate in redistributing food, charities argue that financial support is crucial to cover associated costs.
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, CEO of FareShare, a major player in the food redistribution sector, noted, “This fund is an incredible opportunity to rescue millions of tonnes of fresh produce from our farms.”
Charlotte Hill of The Felix Project highlighted the urgent need for food assistance, pointing out that 56% of working families in London have turned to food banks.
Government representatives acknowledged the commitment to reduce food waste but indicated financial constraints are complicating the implementation of such initiatives.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stated it is working towards reducing food waste and increasing food distribution to those in need.