The Felix Project, a London-based food rescue charity, is calling on the government to include new options within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to boost food redistribution and reduce waste.
A study, handled by Argon & Co and commissioned by The Felix Project, estimated that between 180,000 and 270,000t of farm surplus could be feasible for redistribution to help deprived communities.
Around two-thirds were already harvested but considered out of specification, making up between 120,000 and 180,000t. At its peak, this could be equivalent to 428m meals.
Of the 191,000t redistributed in 2023, just 8,000t came from farms.
The proposed options for SFI would reward farmers for donating out-of-specification fruits and vegetables. Argon & Co suggested that an investment of between £10m and £23m would produce around £90m worth of food.
Charlotte Hill OBE, CEO of The Felix Project said: “We know how much effort and resources farmers put into growing food, yet vast quantities of nutritious fruit and vegetables go to waste every year, whilst millions of people across the country face food insecurity and food bank usage is at record highs.
“We believe introducing an incentive that rewards farmers for giving surplus produce to charities like The Felix Project is a real opportunity to deliver on economic, environmental and health and social priorities.”