Fixing a 'broken' food system

A CHARITY that redistributes food to people in need recently gathered over 120 of Devon and Cornwall’s political leaders, business innovators, food suppliers, charities and educators for its Spring Summit.

- By ATHWENNA IRONS

The event, organised by FareShare South West, showcased the power of collaboration in tackling hunger and food waste in the South West and announced an urgent appeal for a larger warehouse.

The charity has outgrown its current facility and can no longer accommodate additional cold storage, packing lines or the expanding volunteer teams that are critical to the charity's mission, and needs larger premises by autumn 2025 to sustain its much needed expanding operations.

Guests at the summit, which was held at Plymouth Argyle’s Home Park Stadium on Friday, April 25, heard from speakers including Lucy Bearn, chief executive of FareShare South West, who addressed the charity's rapid growth and the challenges of scaling food rescue operations across the region.

She said: “Our current warehouse is simply bursting at the seams. Securing a new, larger facility is essential, not just for space, but to ensure that all surplus food we rescue can reach those who need it most.

“There are very specific challenges in Devon and Cornwall - 19% of children in Devon are currently living in poverty; 23% of children in Cornwall are living in poverty. This rises to 35% in parts of Torbay and 42% in some parts of North Devon and Bodmin.”