Labour ministers are under pressure to honour a £15 million pledge by Rishi Sunak to fund an initiative that would stop tonnes of farm produce going to waste and instead feed vulnerable people in London and beyond.
After a successful campaign run by the Evening Standard and the UK’s two largest food redistribution charities, The Felix Project and FareShare, the then Prime Minister announced the “Farm Gate Food Waste Fund” in February.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) committed to providing £15 million to help tackle the three million tonnes of edible produce that goes uneaten every year on UK farms, often because it is rejected by supermarket chains or because of labour shortages.
The money would have rescued more than 28,000 tonnes of food – enough for 67 million meals – and would more than pay for itself, delivering £100 million of social returns, its backers argue.
But the fund’s launch was postponed when Mr Sunak called the General Election in July, and now the charities fear it will fall by the wayside when Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils her first Budget next month.
Charlotte Hill, CEO of The Felix Project, said: “The Farm Gate Food Waste Fund represents such an obvious opportunity to tap into the huge quantities of nutritious food that go to waste on UK farms every year.
“At a time when the frontline charities we deliver to are seeing more and more demand for their services, the Government really mustn’t let this opportunity slip. Farmers put their blood, sweat and tears into growing this food – it should be feeding people who really need it,” she said.
With the autumn harvest already underway, The Felix Project has pressed ahead with one project to rescue more than 30 tonnes of apples, pears and plums from H. E. Hall & Son’s farm in Marden, Kent.
Farm owner Peter Hall said: “The level of wastage that happens on farms, especially small ones like ours, is terrible to see – all the more so because so many people are struggling to access fresh fruit and vegetables.
“I encourage the new Government to honour the commitment made to UK farmers and deliver on the promised funding.”
Ms Reeves is giving little away about her Budget but has stressed that she faces difficult choices to plug a £22 billion "black hole" that Labour says it inherited from the Tories.
A Defra spokesperson told the Standard: “The amount of food we waste is a stain on our country. We thank food producers, charities and retailers in the sector for highlighting the problem of food waste.
“We are also working with business to drive down food waste and make sure food is put on the plates of those in greatest need.”
For the Tories, shadow minister for London Gareth Bacon said: “When in opposition, the Labour Party constantly attacked the Conservatives over the increase in food bank use.
“It would therefore be a very odd decision to scrap this scheme in their very first Budget, especially if it is done as part of the totally discredited ‘£22 billion black hole’ narrative.”
The Orpington MP added: “The Labour Party should honour the previous government’s commitment and allow farmers to access this funding so that this food can get to where it is needed, rather than go to waste.”
