The UK is grappling with more than four million tonnes of edible food going to waste annually, which is the equivalent weight of 70 aircraft carriers. Simultaneously, 11 million people in the country face food insecurity, and the poorest households are forced to spend half their income to afford a healthy diet, leading to a host of health issues.
Titled ‘Where’s the Food? Strengthening Communities Through Surplus Food Redistribution’, the manifesto calls on the next Government to make it easier for businesses to donate surplus food. It underscores the crucial role of increasing support for the food redistribution sector.
George Wright, chief executive of FareShare, said: “The waste of millions of tonnes of surplus food in the UK supply chain presents a major opportunity for businesses, the third sector, and the Government to transform how we deal with this problem collectively.
“We welcome the recently announced £15 million for the sector, and now we can build on it. In this manifesto, we’ve set out the means to do this – through a combination of simple measures that will encourage more businesses to redistribute their surplus food, empower communities to use it and contribute to progressive policymaking in our food system.
“Our solutions are achievable, and they do not cost the earth. But we need support from those with the power to act. As a general election nears, political parties must grasp this challenge and commit to the policies that will help close the gap between the UK’s surplus food and those who need it.”
The manifesto calls for:
- Subsidies for farmers to cover redistribution costs
- Tax benefits for businesses donating surplus food
- Mandatory food waste reporting
- Clear guidelines for ‘good samaritans’ on food donation safety
- Sustained funding for farm level food redistribution
- A UK-wide plan to end charitable food aid
- Resources for local food waste and food security projects