BY Beth bradshaw, policy lead

Earlier this month, the Government outlined how it plans to serve up a Good Food Cycle in a bid to create a healthier, more sustainable food system.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has highlighted ten priority areas in a new policy paper which range from improving food environments, supporting healthier and more sustainable food, and ensuring everyone has access to affordable, healthy, convenient and appealing food options. Other priority areas identified in the paper include creating sustainable and resilient food supplies, supporting good growth within the food sector and promoting vibrant food cultures.

The publication of this framework forms a key step in the development of a much-needed national food strategy and it is promising to see that the Government recognises the importance of a joined-up food system that supports health, the local economy and the planet.

However, we are not starting from a blank canvas. The previous Government commissioned Henry Dimbleby to write an independent food strategy in 2019, which was subsequently published in 2021. The strategy included a set of bold and ambitious recommendations to the Government on how it could break the ‘junk food cycle’, tackle food insecurity and consider more sustainable food production and procurement. Unfortunately, there was little appetite at the time on any of the recommendations and the strategy was left to gather dust.

 

Shining a Light on Local Food Partnerships

Despite the lack of leadership at a national level, local areas have been working hard to mitigate some of the consequences of a broken food system – which has ultimately resulted in communities up and down the country facing several barriers in accessing good food. The lasting impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing rising cost-of-living has only exacerbated these barriers further.

In 2021, Feeding Liverpool launched the Good Food Plan, which features five key goals that will help us work towards increasing access to good food for all in our city. This was created in response to growing concerns about the rise in food insecurity and the impact that the food people eat is having on the planet. One of the key actions that was established out of the Good Food Plan was for the city to become a Sustainable Food Place, which was achieved when Liverpool was awarded Bronze in 2023. This has supported Feeding Liverpool as an alliance in many ways; we have been given the opportunity to share learning and what works well with other food partnerships, and have been able to provide a framework for action which is being utilised by over 120 local places across the UK. Feeding Liverpool hopes to build on these successes by applying for Silver in 2026.

It is, therefore, of no surprise that as part of the Good Food Cycle framework the Government recognises not only the important role that food partnerships can play in supporting a joined-up food system, but also how they can help to influence at both a regional and national level. As there is a wealth of untapped knowledge within local food partnerships, it is crucial that they are partners of the design and delivery of the National Food Strategy.

 

Enabling Food Citizenship

Feeding Liverpool strongly welcomes any publications that aim to break down the barriers our communities face in accessing good food. It is key, however, that community voices are heard in these pieces.

One aspect of the proposals that Feeding Liverpool is particularly pleased to see is the inclusion of the Citizens Advisory Council; The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will be working with a network of informed citizens who represent different backgrounds and regions of the UK, and who will help to shape the development of the strategy.

Enabling citizens to have their voice heard and shape their food environments is a key priority for the Good Food Plan, and will go a long way in ensuring that the Strategy is responsive to what is happening on the ground.

 

Connecting Communities to Food

Feeding Liverpool are also pleased to see that the Paper places an emphasis on vibrant food cultures and that one of the outlined priorities will ensure that people are more connected to their local food systems.

In Liverpool, Feeding Liverpool see this connection occur through engagement with our community food network partners, which is made up of 80 organisations across the city. Later this year, Feeding Liverpool will be supporting Engage Liverpool to deliver a series of events that will seek to explore our food culture at both local and national levels. Further to this, Feeding Liverpool will also be working alongside the city’s small to medium-sized enterprises in order to ground them within their local communities – aligning the needs of Liverpool’s residents with business operators and championing value-driven businesses that enhance the food culture in the city.

If the Strategy is to be truly person-centred, however, it has to work for people – and not just in what they eat or how they access it. It should also support value-driven supply chain work, which provides the opportunity for community wealth building.

 

The Good Food Cycle in Action

After a hiatus, this publication indicates that national leadership on improving the food system is back on the menu. As is always the case, the proof will be in the pudding and Feeding Liverpool are looking forward to finding out exactly how the Government plans to deliver the ten priority areas identified.

Feeding Liverpool’s recommendation would be to embrace and invest in local food partnerships that can connect at different local, regional and national levels; this would provide people with greater autonomy to shape their local food system and support the development of a national food strategy that is both asset-based and driven by the people it aims to serve.

At Feeding Liverpool, we will be able to use the Good Food Cycle Framework to hold the Government to account and will work with our local, regional and national partners to ensure these priority areas are kept high on the agenda; this will be achieved by re-establishing the Good Food Policy and Advocacy Group, which will be led by Feeding Liverpool’s new Policy Lead Beth Bradshaw. The upcoming Child Poverty Strategy in the autumn is a clear opportunity to provide further detail on how the Government plans to deliver on the priority areas that promise equal access to healthy, convenient, affordable and delicious food.

Bringing the Good Food Cycle to life will undoubtedly be able to support here in Liverpool, but will also help to meet the Government’s own core missions – particularly securing economic growth through a more vibrant, sustainable and equitable food sector.

What the Government is proposing is ambitious and bold, but wholly in proportion to the scale of the challenge facing our food system. Whilst Feeding Liverpool recognises that creating a Good Food Cycle will take time, communities here in Liverpool – as well as up and down the country – need the support now. Feeding Liverpool hope this Paper has set the wheels in motion.

 

How To Get Involved

There are many ways that people can get involved and stay up-to-date with Feeding Liverpool’s work.

• The Good Food Taskforce will be re-established in the autumn. Please email Keenan to find out more about the group.
• If you are interested in finding out more about the Good Food Policy and Advocacy Group, please email Beth.
• Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on socials to keep up to date with our work here.