On 15th July the UK Government published a policy paper, A UK government food strategy for England, considering the wider UK food system, outlining its high-level vision for the UK’s food system a ‘healthier, more affordable, sustainable and resilient 21st century UK food system that grows the economy, feeds the nation, nourishes people, and protects the environment and climate, now and in the future.’ We welcome this move towards a more food systems approach which also seems to mark a shift towards place-based food policy and a rights-based approach ‘where good food is accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few.’
Given that significant areas of policy related to food are devolved, most of the paper and related policies are aimed at England only, but it does recognise the need for any future Food Strategy to align with and support other nation’s approaches to food policy, such as Scotland’s Good Food Nation Act. Certainly ensuring an effective partnership approach to UK food system change will be crucial to success and we are looking forward to the future Strategy outlining the mechanisms for how this will happen, not only across national governments and agencies, but also the host of multiple stakeholders across civil society, businesses and communities.
In terms of content, as you might expect the paper says (mostly) all the right things about the issues facing the food system and how great everything would be if we resolved them, and this vision is underpinned by 10 priority ‘Outcomes’ describing how to make it a reality. However, unlike the outcomes in Scotland’s newly proposed National Good Food Nation Plan, some of these feel a little clunky and not well thought out: for example, Outcome 10 states ‘People are more connected to their local food systems and have the confidence, knowledge and skills to cook and eat healthily’. Whilst we would certainly agree people should be more connected to their local food systems, the emphasis on cooking skills in the title seems a bit out of place given we’re talking about food system change.
We are, however, pleased to see the Sustainable Food Places (SFP) network of food partnerships referenced in their role contributing toward the Food Strategy’s outcomes, particularly in strengthening community skills and knowledge, enabling healthier, more diverse and sustainable supply chains, enlivening food culture and strengthening community resilience to system shocks. Food partnerships bring together key stakeholders from across the food system to ensure effective communication and collaboration at local regional and national levels. The SFP network in Scotland, coordinated by Nourish Scotland, already works in over half of Scotland’s local authority areas and is seen as one of the key mechanisms for delivering on our Good Food Nation ambitions.
Whilst we’re not yet sure when we’ll see the first iteration of the UK’s Food Strategy there are high hopes, but, as we’ve seen in Scotland’s National Good Food Nation Plan, the devil will be in the detail. It’s one thing talking about the need for food system change, but another thing entirely making it happen.
You can read SFP UK’s response to UK Government’s vision for the UK food system and for more information on SFP Scotland contact Simon (simon@nourishscotland.org.uk)