Network Launched To Cut Food Waste Across Supply Chain

A new £500,000 network has been set up to link researchers with those in the industry to tackle the problem head on right across the entire supply chain.

9, a:1:{i:0;s:8:”defaults”;}, surface grinding equipment, A new £500,000 network has been set up to link researchers with those in the industry to tackle the problem head on right across the entire supply chain., In a bid to address the issue of food waste in the UK, a new £500,000 network has been set up to link researchers with those in the industry to tackle the problem head on right across the entire supply chain.

Led by professors Leon Terry from Cranfield University and Carol Wagstaff from the University of Reading, the network will commission a vast range of different projects, with researchers from all over the country able to apply for funds to develop research ideas and solutions.

Some 51 per cent of all food waste in this country takes place before it reaches consumers, whether that’s during agriculture, after the harvest, distribution or processing. Taking the world as a whole, more than a third of all food produced across the entire food chain is wasted.

A big proportion of this food loss has to do with the physiology of the crops themselves, as well as poor control of post-harvest biology and the control systems that are in place and how they’re applied.

“Cranfield University has a long history of reducing postharvest food losses and we are delighted to be leading this network with UKRI and University of Reading. The network will allow us to better harness our national scientific talent to help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 to halve per capita global food waste and reduce food losses,” Mr Terry said.

Research from WRAP and estimates from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations show that $984 billion is lost to the economy globally each year because of food loss and waste.

This equates to £20 billion worth of food waste in the UK each year, or £810 worth of food thrown in the bin by the average family in the UK annually.

But work is being done to address the situation and figures published in November last year by WRAP show that a quarter of all pre-packed unprepared fresh produce now comes with no date label, while the shelf life of other produce – such as milk – has been increased.

Almost all the product assessed had the right home storage advice included, but more action was needed in certain areas.

For example, there was little evidence of retailers implementing guidance to remove open life statements on packets. Hard cheese has an average available life of 64 days, but 90 per cent of packs advise people to use them within five to seven days of opening.

Guidance has now been updated on applying date labels for fresh produce. Offering fruit and veg loose gives people the chance to take what they need and the absence of a Best Before date can help reduce waste by encouraging customers to use their own judgement.

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MATT BEVERLEY

A time served Mechanical engineer Matt’s background includes many high-profile projects within the Automotive Industry: The Rolls Royce Phantom, Rolls Royce Cullinan, Spyker Le-Mans racing teams, Bentley, Aston Martin, and Airbus A380. This history and knowledge of complex manufacturing and engineering projects have been transferred and further developed into the bulk material handling sector. Matt has work in Europe, North America, Indonesia, and China

He joined the bulk solids and bulk handling industry in 2019 as Managing Director of Hoverdale UK Ltd and subsequently completed a Management buyout in July 2020. The business has grown yearly, increased employment, its customer base, and worldwide reputation, and disrupted the market with groundbreaking innovative technology. Since Matt took over Hoverdale, the company has filed four patents for innovation; one was granted in 2023 for a design to improve bulk handling. The success had been driven by delivering tailored solutions to the waste recycling sectors that keep material flowing out and money flowing in.

Awards Include

  • 2024 – Shapa company of the Year
  • 2024- Shapa Innovation in Technology
  • 2024- MHEA Engineer of the year
  • 2021 – MHEA Innovation of the year
  • 2021- IMechE Innovation award

Current Positions Include.

  • Group Chairman Hoverdale UK Ltd
  • President (MHEA) Material Handling Engineers Association
  • Vice Chairman: IMechE Bulk Material Handling Committee
  • Council Member: (SHAPA) Solids Handling & Particle Association
  • Member: Chartered Management Institute

Matt has been happily married to Julie for 22 years and has 4 children, 3 of which are involved within the Hoverdale group of companies. He is an RFU level 2 qualified coach and referee having been in several head coaching roles at various age groups from under 6’s to adults for his local team Nuneaton RFC. He believes in the core values that rugby teaches of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, Sportsmanship and try’s to carry this through in his day to day business activities. He is passionate at brining the next generation of young, diverse engineers into the sector through promotion of apprenticeship scheme and further education routes.

DAVID BARTER

David is an experienced leader, with a background covering Operations, eCommerce, Finance, Compliance, HR and IT. His career spans Banking, Retail and Engineering, spending the majority of his career working for ALDI as they grew to become 4th largest supermarket in the UK, including seven years on their UK board as Managing Director of IT and eCommerce.

David joined Hoverdale’s Senior Management Team in 2023 to seek a fresh challenge in a completely different industry sector. He has applied his approach to Process Improvement, Efficiency, Customer Service and Teamwork to great effect during Hoverdale’s sustained growth.

Married to Jane, with three adult sons between them, David volunteers on the board of the Nottingham Playhouse theatre as well as his local rugby and football clubs. Any spare time he spends enjoying walks with their Golden Retriever, Buzz, who is also regularly seen in the Hoverdale office.

BEN DUCHESNE

Ben is a time serviced field service engineer in the busy waste and recycling sector, who’s career moved into to managing service teams and beyond. Originally beginning his career with a HGV repair and maintenance apprenticeship with IVECO, from there travelling and working in multiple countries moving towards waste processing shredders.

Ben joined the Hoverdale team in September 2024 seeking to apply his extensive knowledge to a new area. His values and ethics fit perfectly within the Hoverdale ethos.

He is happily married to Kristina, with 4 wonderful young children; 14, 11, 8 and 5. We the children he doesn’t get much spare time. He is a family man, who enjoys spending as much time with them as possible.