Each year in Wales, around 400,000 tonnes of food is wasted, much of it still good to eat. This waste not only impacts Wales but also contributes significantly to global climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, harming our environment.  At a time when 1 in 5 adults in Wales face poverty and food insecurity, allowing good food to go to waste should never be the only option. At FareShare Cymru, we’re committed to working with Welsh food businesses, to redirect good-to-eat surplus food to people and communities, rather than letting end up in landfills; turning an environmental problem into a social solution. 

In recent years, rising costs have hit the British food industry significantly and cost pressures are often cited as a barrier to donating surplus. Disposing of food through anaerobic digestion, animal feed, or landfill is cheaper than donating it to us or other organisations. To tackle this issue, we introduced the Surplus with Purpose Cymru fund; the fund allows Welsh food businesses to donate their surplus food completely free of charge, covering all costs associated with staffing, packaging, and transport.  

Since April 2024, the Surplus with Purpose Cymru fund has seen an impressive 342 tonnes of fresh produce including cucumbers, potatoes, cauliflower and milk through the doors of the FareShare Cymru warehouse, at no cost to the contributing businesses. This has prevented 1,058 tonnes of CO2 emissions being released had the food ended up in landfill. As FareShare distributes this surplus food to charities and organisations, it has helped contribute to an estimated 814,285 meals for people who need it most.  

One food partner who accessed the Surplus with Purpose Cymru fund last year is Bremenda Isaf Farm in Carmarthenshire. Bremenda Isaf Farm is a forward-thinking farm, currently trialling an initiative to grow high-quality produce locally, for locals; reducing reliance on sourcing food from further afield and subsequently, reducing the carbon emissions that come with the transport. Piers, from Bremenda Isaf Farm, commented on his experience of accessing the fund:  

‘At Bremenda Isaf Farm we have a mission to grow great quality, nutritious food for the public plate. But as with any food producer, there is always surplus that needs to find a home. It’s brilliant that we can provide some of our surplus to FareShare Cymru, in the knowledge that it will reach people across Wales who need it most.’  

Piers explains how access to the fund meant they could prevent an over-production of cucumbers from going to waste:   

‘This fund has been absolutely instrumental in diverting surplus from waste. We had a situation in which cucumbers destined for school meals were producing significant quantities during the summer holidays. Our other markets were unable to take those quantities, so it was a lifeline for us to have a third sector route that had no limit on the number of cucumbers it could handle. In today’s economic climate, in which people struggle to afford the high cost of living, it was so good to know that our produce was going where it was really needed.’  

Thanks to support from the Welsh Government, we’re re-launching the Surplus with Purpose fund for 2025/26, helping us continue tackling food waste and supporting communities throughout Wales. If you’re a food business interested in learning more about the Surplus with Purpose fund, get in touch at swp@fareshare.cymru.