We call for a Local Food Partnerships in every local authority and a Good Food Bill in every nation

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In the absence of a unified food strategy from Westminster, and the context of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, Local Food Partnerships, operating within the Sustainable Food Places model, have grown in size and number to fill the gap. Their experiences and stories demonstrate how they have provided resilient and long-term solutions to some of the most pressing issues in our food system - including food insecurity, supply chain disruption and inequity, and the global climate, health and nature emergencies.

The network took the opportunity to call on the new Labour Government to support the establishment of a funded and resourced Local Food Partnership in every local authority, alongside a food strategy endorsed by the council, and a Good Food Bill in every nation (already in place in Scotland).

The Soil Association’s Sustainable Food Places Programme Manager Leon Ballin, before the event said: “We are calling for a better vision for the UK’s food and farming systems. Local Food Partnerships offer a proven model for addressing food inequalities in some of the most deprived communities and creating a fairer and more sustainable food system. We want the Government to seize the opportunity to adopt and fund Local Food Partnerships in every local authority and to support a Good Food Bill in each nation.  

We are confident that the new Government is acutely aware of the shortcomings of our food and farming system and the failure of the previous administration to address this. We are hopeful we will be joined by Daniel Zeichner, Food and Farming Minister, who has spoken positively about Local Food Partnerships and witnessed first-hand the incredible work of Cambridge Sustainable Food CIC, a Sustainable Food Place Gold Award winner, in shaping a fairer more sustainable food system in his constituency.”

The Government has already indicated its willingness to work with Local Food Partnerships in a response to a recent Parliamentary Question. The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern in reply to Lord Loomba (21 September 2024) said: “The government will be considering the role of place-based initiatives, including Local Food Partnerships, as we develop our plans to support our farmers and food and drink businesses, boost food security, invest in rural communities, deliver growth, manage waste more effectively across the supply chain, improve resilience to climate change, and tackle biodiversity loss.”

Our network calls on every MP for support to:

•  Champion the cause of their Local Food Partnership and local food organisations in Parliament, including at debates, select committee hearings and elsewhere.

•  Visit local food projects and enterprises to better understand the challenges faced by their constituents in accessing and providing healthy and sustainable food.

•  Consult with their Local Food Partnership as experts on locally powered solutions to challenges facing the UK.

Leon Ballin went on to say: “Despite the lack of central direction and investment we have built a network of committed Local Food Partnerships who have shown leadership and achieved fantastic results at a local and regional level that have made a real difference to people’s lives. They have proved what can be achieved by empowering local communities to champion a whole system approach to food and built successful partnerships between stakeholders including local authorities, voluntary sector organisations, farmers, food businesses, and local people.”

Emma Lewell-Buck MP for South Shields and Local Food Partnership advocate said: “I am pleased that South Shields is part of the Sustainable Food Places network. I have long supported measures to alleviate hunger and food poverty and have always advocated for a more sustainable approach to food supply and access.

Thanks to my food insecurity bill we now have a true measurement of UK food insecurity. At present 14% of all households are food insecure, rising to 18% of those with children, that is households and children who regularly do not have access to nutritional food. In South Shields, four in every ten children are living in poverty. Our food partnership is having, and will continue to, make a difference. Every area should have one.”

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