Cambridge Sustainable Food

Cambridge Sustainable Food is an innovative and growing partnership of public, private and community organisations in Cambridge and the surrounding villages. We work with each other to promote a vibrant local food system all along the supply chain and in our community. Founded in 2013, Cambridge Sustainable Food has been campaigning to achieve healthy and sustainable food for everyone ever since. The Partnership Board oversees Cambridge Sustainable Food's work, with representatives from public, private, community and charitable organisations across the city.

We believe in an environmentally and socially just food system that enables people to have a say in the decisions that affect them and future generations. By campaigning for and promoting sustainable food we strive to drive positive change in our communities towards food that is good for us and for the planet. 

We are a proud holder of the Sustainable Food Places Bronze Award, one of the first cities to hold it, and are currently working towards our Silver Award.

What we do

  • Coordination of the emergency food provision efforts in the city in partnership with Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance. During the Covid-19 pandemic we have established 8 community food hubs around the city, where people experiencing or who are at risk of food poverty can access food for free. Read our latest Covid-19 food response report here.
  • Delivery of a participatory Holiday Lunches programme in the city to tackle holiday hunger
  • Running healthy and sustainable food campaigns and events including Veg Fest, Sugar Smart and Cambridge Pumpkin Festival
  • Establishing the Healthy Start Fruit and Veg box scheme in partnership with Cambridge Food Hub to help make good quality, healthy and sustainable food accessible to all.
  • Providing sustainable business support and advice 
  • Working with the City Council to respond to the climate and nature emergencies, as a member of the cross-sector Climate Leader’s Group, and as delivery partners for Cambridge’s Climate Change Strategy
  • Promoting local sustainable food businesses through our sustainable food directory and running an award scheme for local food SMEs 
  • Regularly run food waste reduction campaigns. Our most recent ‘Food For Our Future’ campaign and challenge aimed at helping residents understand the link between food waste and climate change, guiding participants to adopt new food waste reducing behaviours, providing resources and cook alongs with local chefs as support.

Areas of expertise

Partnership & Collaboration

Awareness and Engagement

Tackling Food Poverty

Promoting Healthy Eating

Supporting Good Food Business

Tackling Food Packaging & Waste