Devon Food Partnership

What we do

The groundswell of local food activity during the pandemic prompted a call for a county food partnership, to support recovery. Recommendations on food resilience including development of a Devon Food Partnership (DFP) were approved by Devon County Council & commenced February 2021. 

Collaboration 

• Food Exeter and Food Plymouth are established Sustainable Food Cities feeding into the county-wide DFP; Torbay food partnership in development. 

• DFP feeder groups have been established e.g. VCSE sector; local emergency food networks; UoE food research network; DCC food collaboration group; local authorities sub-group. 

• Multi-stakeholder parties (e.g. Net-Zero task force) support a County partnership. DFP is part of Devon’s Interim Carbon Plan, Food Land and Sea theme. 

• Sustainable food groups are collaborating i.e. Good Food Exeter, Apricot Centre, Tamar Grow Local.  

• Local food networks in all Devon districts have been explored, focusing on the issues which are most appropriately addressed locally. 

Research  

• Food Exeter, Food Plymouth, Bioregional Learning Centre and Public Health Devon collaborated on 2019 research into the challenges and opportunities for Devon Food networks.  

• DCC commissioned a representative survey in 2021, demonstrating concerningly high levels of food insecurity. 

• A collaborative southwest-wide research piece mapping supply chains is in development (working with other SFPs, LEPs & Authorities). 

Action 

• In February 2021, a webinar launched food partnership building for Devon - key speakers: Food Plymouth, Sustainable Food Places, Food Exeter  

• DFP built a consensus of local priorities through stakeholder engagement 

• DFP has connected local food action to facilitate collaborative working, and link complementary projects. 

• DFP has formed a task group to bring together local groups, authorities and food partnerships on a project to explore ways to promote the take up of Healthy Start in Devon.

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Areas of expertise