A ground-breaking new social venture company has been launched by researchers at the University of Nottingham and the University of Bristol to help farmers sell surplus produce to community-based buyers – including food banks, social supermarkets and small food producers – across the UK.
The new company, Circular Agriculture Hub, has now been incorporated and received £40,000 in seed funding from ImpactU to accelerate its development. The initiative is the result of a long-standing academic collaboration between Dr Lucy McCarthy, Associate Professor at the University of Bristol Business School, and Anne Touboulic, Professor of Socio-Ecological Systems at Nottingham University Business School.
The project addresses a stark issue in the UK: each year, around seven per cent of food intended for consumption is wasted on farms, while millions face food insecurity. By connecting small- and medium-sized farmers with buyers who can make use of surplus or imperfect produce such as mis-sized vegetables or cosmetically damaged fruit – the Circular Agriculture Hub aims to reduce waste and redistribute food more equitably.
This venture is about challenging the status quo. The dominant food system is failing too many - especially small-scale farmers. Our collaborative research shows how new economic models can support sustainable practices while addressing food insecurity. Circular Agriculture Hub is a step towards that change."
