Child hunger and an explosion of demand for food banks are the tip of the iceberg and the ultimate proof that there is something wrong with our food system.
Many more challenges are mounting: from the growing environmental impact of food on our planet, rising levels of obesity, to the uncertainty faced by the hundreds of thousands of people employed in the catering and hospitality industry. These problems can’t be solved with a quick sticking plaster but require people locally coming together for a shared understanding of the problems and identifying the best solutions.
The headlines may be national but many of the solutions lie at the local level, as we have seen time and time again in the delivery of the emergency food response during Covid-19. Food partnerships are a brilliant way to bring together citizens, local government, community groups, businesses and academics to promote good food for all. In places where they already exist, they have helped drive collective progress on many of the issues above.
That’s why we inviting everyone in England to write to your local elected leaders and ask them to support a food partnership in your local area. If there is already a food partnership then please do change your message to your councillors to mention them, and encourage the councillor receiving the email to support them. We’ve written the copy for you, and identified your councillors, all you need to do is press send!