Following the success of a recent research project by the University of Hertfordshire in partnership with FareShare, the UK’s biggest food redistribution charity, where they calculated the immense social and economic impact of food redistribution for the UK, the researchers behind the report will be presenting their findings and methodology in-person at the University of Hertfordshire to demonstrate how the impact of such work can be monetised. The session will also include talks from FareShare representatives and time for questions from the audience.
As a result of Herts researchers applying a particular economics and social sciences methodology to data received from FareShare when commissioned by the charity this year, they calculated that the UK food redistribution organisation’s annual economic and social impact has an estimated value of £225 million for the UK economy. These findings then led to the charity calling upon the Government to invest £25 million a year into waste food redistribution – an ongoing campaign that is now being supported by the Evening Standard.
The research project is a great demonstration of how Economic principles and concepts can bring tangible evidence – that is in this case, monetary value – on consequences that aren’t easily monetised, yet are linked to pertinent real-life issues. In this instance, the Economics methodology has resulted in a campaign to influence potentially life-changing policy changes at Government level.
It’s an example the projects’ researchers - Dr Christopher Nicholas, Dr Tassos Patokos and Dr Aarti Rughoo, Senior and Principal Lecturers in Strategy and Economics at Herts - will be presenting to sixth form students studying Economics – with support from FareShare - to help them get an understanding of how research in Economics is carried out, and its greater social science impact.
Dr Christopher Nicholas, Dr Tassos Patokos and Dr Aarti Rughoo of the Hertfordshire Business School at the University of Hertfordshire
Young people in particular, and anyone interested in the economic & social impact of fighting hunger and tackling food waste
Schools, especially sixth form