Labour backs £15m rescue fund to tackle food waste and feed those in need

Labour ministers have thrown their support behind a £15m government scheme to rescue surplus food from UK farms—often thrown away or fed to animals—and distribute it to homeless shelters, food banks and charities, particularly over the festive period.

The fund, originally promised by Michael Gove in 2018 and again by Rishi Sunak in 2024, never got off the ground despite persistent calls from charities. Following renewed pressure this autumn, including an open letter from chef Tom Kerridge and hundreds of non-profits, the Labour government has confirmed that grants starting at £20,000 will be made available to not-for-profit food redistribution groups in England.

Under the scheme, these organisations can invest in equipment to collect and process bulky produce, develop tech solutions linking farms with charities and provide essential IT training. About 330,000 tonnes of perfectly edible food is currently discarded or fed to animals each year. With festive staples like brussels sprouts and potatoes in high demand over Christmas, charities say the new funding could make a timely impact.

Mary Creagh, minister for the circular economy, said: “With families gathering to celebrate Christmas and the new year, it’s important to remember those who may be going hungry this festive period. Nobody wants to see good food go to waste—especially farmers, who work hard to put food on family tables.”

Charlotte Hill, chief executive of the Felix Project, and Kris Gibbon-Walsh, head of FareShare, jointly welcomed the announcement: “We are thrilled to see this fund come to fruition. We are pleased that the government has recognised that too much food goes to waste on our farms, and that it should be redistributed to feed people who need it.”

Harriet Lamb, chief executive of the global environmental NGO Wrap, added that the move “gives a flying start to the new year” and helps both food charities and the farming sector develop immediate and long-term solutions. More details about the fund and eligibility criteria will be released early next year, while the newly formed “circular economy taskforce” is set to publish a broader strategy aimed at halving food waste by 2030.

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Labour backs £15m rescue fund to tackle food waste and feed those in need