Representation and Justice | Sustainable Food Places

Those of us working to transform the food system recognise the need to address the inequities and disparities that exist in the way it is structured and the way it works – from food production and distribution to retail, and right down to what we eat. Sustainable Food Places is committed to embedding best practice and taking measurable action on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, across both the SFP Programme and the UK-wide Network of Sustainable Food Partnerships.

We acknowledge that our food system mirrors and entrenches racial oppression and exclusion present in society. Race significantly shapes people's experiences within this system, from food access and food sector work to inclusion in food policy discussions. Addressing culture and practice on race is therefore integral to delivering the SFP programme and the core work of food partnerships.

We need to be wary about who holds power within our partnerships, our programme and the broader UK food system. We must strive to understand why certain demographics do not have a voice. Because food intersects with many societal issues, decision-making in the food sphere must be inclusive, diverse and accessible.

Our approach encompasses representation and justice for all individuals involved in the food system - including those who produce, transport, prepare, sell, and consume food. We are especially committed to amplifying the voices of those historically excluded due to race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, or socio-economic status.

Overarching principles

We acknowledge injustice, discrimination and systemic oppression that exists in our society to ensure we address it and avoid perpetuating it in our organisations and our actions.
All stakeholders in the food system should have a voice, the opportunity for equal participation, and agency in decision-making processes.
Inclusive and fair decision-making ensures that diverse perspectives are considered, leading to a more just and equitable food system for all.

Why this matters

SFP’s place-based approach requires that food partnerships genuinely reflect and represent their communities, ensuring that anyone who wishes to engage with, learn about, or contribute to food system decision-making can do so.

Achieving this demands reflection on our culture, practices, and people within our organisations, and the development of strategies that help us to be more diverse, fair and inclusive.

Representation and Justice - working against exclusion and discrimination

REDI for Change – becoming actively anti-racist

Since 2020, SFP has embraced REDI for Change as its guiding ethos for integrating anti-racism across our programme. This commitment arose in response to the murder of George Floyd and our solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

REDI for Change is a robust, co-developed ethos that incorporates a set of principles and a practical methodology for self-reflection leading to change – the REDI Review Tool – helping us to explore how our practices engage with, reflect and impact the experiences in our communities.

We are committed to the journey and transformation needed to become an anti-racist programme. This begins with an acknowledgement that currently the UK food system, and our programme and Network of members, fails to reflect the diversity in our communities and fails to address inequalities based on race. We need to drive change within our programme that recognises and redefines our culture, practice and representation viewed through the lens of race, equity, diversity and inclusion. This transformation will span internal operations within the SFP programme team and extend to the UK-wide Network of SFP member partnerships, and include action in policy, practice, and in the way we communicate.

The REDI Review Tool is a self-reflection and assessment tool helping SFP food partnerships and other food sector organisations review and reflect on their current behaviour. It facilitates discussions, highlights progress and identifies areas for further action and support.

Anti-racism Strategy

In 2024 SFP co-developed an Anti-racism Strategy establishing a framework and commitment for active anti-racism within the programme and UK-wide network. Guided and facilitated by Animo Leadership this strategy was created through a human-centered design process with a dedicated working group of 20 participants from SFP partnerships and others working on racial justice in the UK food system.

The strategy aims to build a more equitable food system by amplifying the voices and experiences of those who have historically been racially minoritised. It sets out a vision to ensure that SFP is racially representative, ensuring that a range of voices are heard, different needs are met, and active anti-racism in our programmes and partnerships is encouraged.

By committing to this anti-racist strategy, SFP network aims to transform the UK food system and contribute to a broader movement for social justice and equity.

Representation and Justice - working against exclusion and discrimination

To be truly representative, inclusive, and fair, we must acknowledge that multiple forms of discrimination and oppression exist, beyond race. These factors may also impact participation in food partnerships. The UK Government’s Equalities Act of 2010 protects individuals from discrimination based on nine protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

Additionally, barriers such as education and financial exclusion must also be considered when fostering inclusive participation.

Acknowledging complexity – a place-based approach

People experience discrimination in different, intersecting ways based on multiple aspects of their identity. For instance, the lived experience of one Black Person of Colour (BPOC) may differ significantly from another based on factors such as gender, age, or socio-economic background.

Any strategy or methodology must avoid a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it should allow local communities to define their own priorities and tailor their representation and justice efforts accordingly. Recognising the diversity of challenges and needs in different locations ensures that solutions remain relevant and impactful.

Next steps

SFP is now developing a strategic framework for Representation and Justice, embedding best practice and taking measurable action on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion across the SFP programme. Building on our previous work on race, we will co-develop this framework in collaboration with individuals engaged in SFP food partnerships across the UK. By listening to diverse perspectives, learning from lived experiences, and fostering an inclusive dialogue, we will create an appropriate and relevant framework for action.