Sustainable Food Cities welcomes the announcement of a National Food Strategy

The Terms of Reference state that:

• “Delivers safe, healthy, affordable food, regardless of where people live or how much they earn;
• Is robust in the face of future shocks;
• Restores and enhances the natural environment for the next generation;
• Is built upon a resilient and sustainable agriculture sector;
• Is a thriving contributor to our urban and rural economies, delivering well paid jobs and supporting innovative producers and manufacturers;
• Does all of this in an efficient and cost-effective way.”

Kath Dalmeny, chief executive of the Sustain food and farming alliance said:

“A National Food Strategy could play a pivotal role in delivering sustainably produced and healthy food for everyone, as well as better livelihoods in food production. It could also support the transition to environmentally friendly farming and fishing that are now imperative. We are excited about the ideas, collaboration and optimism that the Food Strategy has already started to generate and look forward to taking part.”

The Sustainable Food Cities Network welcomes this announcement and is keen to take part and engage its members in this process which has been one of its long-standing requests.

We are in contact with Defra and will be communicating on ways SFC members can input into the National Food Strategy consultations.

We are also keeping a close eye on other national food strategy developments underway in Scotland as part of the Good Food Nation; and in Wales as part of a wide range of work on food and farming policy, including the Healthy Weight, Healthy Wales initiative; the Welsh Food and Drink (industry) strategy; and the Brexit and Our Land consultation, which enters its second phase in July 2019.

More information on the National Food Strategy, and sign up to get involved