Grants available for surplus food redistribution initiatives
In January, Defra opened the Food Waste Reduction Fund to expressions of interest from not-for-profit organisations in England.
The £500,000 fund, administered by sustainability organisation WRAP, has been created to help increase the redistribution of surplus food from businesses to people in need, thereby reducing food waste. WRAP expects individual grants to range from £20,000 to £75,000.
Applications could include funding for:
- Training, eg on IT and food safety skills
- Increased and improved ability to hold and redistribute food, eg packing and labelling facilities, freezer capacity or refrigerated vehicles
- Facilitation to form collaborative partnerships
- Communication and technology to connect businesses donating food and organisations receiving it
To be eligible, applicants will need to demonstrate that their initiatives will result in an increase in the amount of surplus food redistributed that would otherwise not happen without this funding. They will also show how they plan to work in partnership with retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers, food service or logistics companies.
Expressions of interest must be submitted by 30 March 2018. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit full applications by 11 May 2018.
The fund was launched at the Courtauld 2025 All-Signatory Summit. The summit was attended by the Real Bread Campaign as a Courtauld 2025 Engagement Partner on account of its No Loaf Loaf surplus reduction project.
Food surplus and waste
Food poverty
Published Tuesday 20 February 2018
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