The chief of Produced in Kent has written an open letter to business owners in the county appealing for help to fund a project it says will 'revolutionise' food waste in the county.

Floortje Hoette, chief executive of the local food and drink champions, is hoping to secure the remaining money needed to get a business-to-business app called Food Loop up and running.

Endorsed by Kent County Council leader Roger Gough, it would allow every food-related organisation in the county to share details of excess food so others can make good use of it.

It has already raised £27,000 of the £43,000 needed through The Low Carbon Across the South East (LoCASE) project, the NUNC Philanthropic Trust and crowdfunding.

Writing to firms, the CEO explained: "We know every business in Kent has got sustainability well and truly on their radar.

"One of the biggest challenges in the UK is food waste, particularly edible food waste on a commercial scale. This is a challenge we have discovered can only be solved by improving communications and working closely together. We need to make it easier to move excess food on to organisations who can use it as ingredients, repurpose it or redistribute it to people who need it.

"We can drive the elimination of edible food waste in Kent and Medway and be an example for other counties."

Among those who would be able to benefit would be food banks.

Produced in Kent is appealing for businesses to each donate £500 in order to hit its target by December 23.