OzHarvest is launching a new digital technology solution called the OzHarvest Food App to tackle the hunger crisis and prevent food waste in regional communities. The app is part of OzHarvest’s mission to address the national target to halve food waste by 2030 in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Australia produces enough food to feed everyone, yet over four million Australians experience food insecurity each year, with regional areas hit the hardest as food relief is increasingly hard to access. Whilst OzHarvest is renowned for their bright yellow vans that rescue food in communities across Australia, the new Food App will focus on feeding those in locations where the vans cannot reach.

OzHarvest Founder and CEO, Ronni Kahn said innovation has to be part of the solution for halving food waste and addressing the ever-growing hunger crisis that effects so many families each year.

“I am staggered at how many people are still going hungry, whilst good food continually goes to waste,” Kahn said.

Within one community, there can be a business throwing away perfectly edible food and just around the corner a charity is struggling to feed people in need.

“The OzHarvest Food App will help local communities support each other by connecting the two on a regular basis and make a tangible difference to people’s lives,” she said.

After a successful pilot with 70 Woolworths stores across the country, OzHarvest will be making the new app available to any business, small or large, to help grow their network of food donors across the country. It is expected to support an additional 600 charities by rescuing over 2,000 tonnes of food to provide an extra six million meals in the first year alone.

Sharon Crook, CEO of local charity The Gathering in Humpty Doo near Darwin said before using the app it was very difficult to source a regular supply of fresh food.

“Thanks to the OzHarvest Food App we are now able to deliver a range of fresh and healthy food to the local community, two more remote communities feeding over 30 families and the emergency accommodation in Humpty Doo,” Crook said.

They now collect fresh fruit and veg regularly from the local Woolworths, and even get meat which was a luxury before.

“It’s made such a big difference to people’s lives and I’ve seen people getting back on their feet, some are even volunteering to give back, it’s sparked a real sense of community,” she said.