The Eat It Up fund is looking for ideas that address pre-farmgate waste, prevent food from being wasted at manufacturing and processing stage, minimise food waste from retailers or find ways to use surplus food in creative ways in communities or at home.
Small businesses, social enterprises, charities, local authorities and universities can apply for a grant of £40,000 to support ideas that are ready to test, or concepts that have been tested and are ready to progress further.
According to WRAP 6.4 million tonnes of edible food is wasted each year in the UK by retailers, manufacturers, caterers, restaurants and in people’s homes. Around 3.6 million tonnes of food is also wasted before it even leaves the farm gate.
Ellen Rutherford, head of food at Hubbub, said: “The Eat It Up Fund has been created to stimulate innovation in tackling food waste, which is a big contributor to climate change. So many resources go into growing, processing, packing, storing and transporting food. There are lots of interesting and inventive ideas out there and this new fund will help organisations to test new concepts and get their ideas off the ground.”
Applications for the Eat It Up fund are open until 21st July. Those wanting to apply can visit: www.eatitupfund.org.uk for more information.