Greater Manchester's Sustainable Food Places Vision

Transitioning Greater Manchester to a Sustainable Food Place

Greater Manchester’s ambition to become a greener, fairer and more resilient city‑region was powerfully reinforced at the Green Summit hosted at CO‑OP Live, the greenest arena in the world. In his address, Mayor Andy Burnham set out the scale of the challenge and opportunity ahead, highlighting the region’s commitment to reach net zero by 2038 and to deliver the country’s first carbon‑neutral transport system by 2030. The green growth opportunities are vast and the mayor challenged us all to do more.

Within this wider climate agenda, food emerged as a critical system through which social, environmental and economic goals can be achieved together. Councillor Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council and Green City Region Portfolio Lead, launched Greater Manchester’s sustainable food vision and its ambition to join the UK‑wide Sustainable Food Places (SFP) network. This vision recognises that food sits at the intersection of food poverty, public health, climate change and community wellbeing, and that progress depends on connecting these issues rather than addressing them in isolation.

The Green Summit workshop reflected this ethos in practice. Delegates heard from areas already on the journey, including Trafford, which is preparing to launch its own Food Partnership, and Bury, a current Silver Award holder. These examples demonstrated that while the challenge is significant, meaningful progress is possible when local leadership, community energy and national frameworks align. 

From healthy, affordable food and vibrant local food cultures to climate action and economic opportunity, the transition to a sustainable food system represents one of the most powerful levers Greater Manchester has to achieve its wider ambitions.  Greater Manchester Combined Authority already has half its borough’s part of the Sustainable Food Places network with more joining in the coming round of membership.

Through embracing the Sustainable Food Places approach and embedding food at the heart of climate and social policy, the city‑region has a clear opportunity to lead again this time in building a fair, resilient and sustainable food future for all.

Chandra Merai