Apply for a technology strategy board funding
I think there is a possibility to get funding from the technology startegy board, now called innovate uk.
Innovate UK is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills: "[They] fund, support and connect innovative businesses to accelerate sustainable economic growth."
The main address is:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk
I think the goal of the OpenFoodFacts apply to at least a program, namely:
"Agri-food supply chain"
https://interact.innovateuk.org/competition-display-page/-/asset_publisher/RqEt2AKmEBhi/content/agri-food-supply-chain
The scope is quite vast, but must encompasse at least one of the 3 proposed high-level challenges.
OpenFoodFacts respond to one of them "innovating to benefit consumer health, wellbeing and choice"
Further down in the scope, we can find 11 lower level challenges.
There is 3 challenges that I think align with the goal and mission of the openfoodfacts:
* food safety, authenticity and traceability: technologies or approaches to maintain product safety and quality, assure provenance or protect against food fraud
* technologies, approaches or services which support the sustained modification of consumer or employee behaviours: such as improving nutrition and/or health, healthier food choices, personalisation of diet, productivity and reduction of waste
* use of data: such as improved methods for the application of ‘omics' information; generation and interpretation of large data sets relevant to the agri-food supply chain; tools or products that take account of impacts on the environment and ecosystem services; and improving the traceability of raw materials and supply
This is basically for companies.
Looking at how one can setup a company in the Uk, I think the current "loi 1901" and a company could both exist without too much paperwork.
While I'm sure that your goal is not to make profit, it could be helpful to have fund to develop the technical side of the concept.
There is also prizes that help bringing technology where it
This one in particular is aimed at companies and individual alike, that "will enable disabled people equal access to life's opportunities"
https://interact.innovateuk.org/competition-display-page/-/asset_publisher/RqEt2AKmEBhi/content/inclusive-technology-prize
While I think OpenFoodFact don't particulary aim at providing a better access to the data for disabled people (yet?), this kind of prize would be great chance to look at this problem.