Reports

Remaking Local Food Systems: Progress and prospects for UK local food partnerships

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Sustainable Food Places (SFP)  supports local food partnerships to harness the diverse energies of the public, voluntary and business sectors along with citizens for a joined-up approach on food issues. This research shows that these food issues are often siloed. SFP champions the need for a coordinated, systems approach. Local food partnerships are now widespread across the UK with strongest representation in areas with high multiple deprivation. Food partnerships are playing a key role in driving the transition from traditional food poverty approaches such as food banks to long-term, sustainable, and empowering models.

Leveraging knowledge-policy interfaces for food systems transformation in the UK: lessons from civil society

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In the UK, a wide range of knowledge and evidence supports the development of food policy. And yet the relationships between knowledge, research, evidence, and policy are only partially understood.

The term, ‘knowledge-policy interfaces,’ describes the power-laden processes, spaces, and structures of knowledge exchange amongst policy actors, including but not limited to academic researchers, policymakers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), and industry.

But how do these interfaces operate? How do different organisations navigate them? And ultimately, how can we best use different forms of knowledge and evidence for food policy change?

This new report examines how Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) approach and navigate knowledge-policy interfaces in the context of UK food policy. Specifically, it examines how different types of CSOs produce and use evidence, build and maintain relationships, and mobilise narratives to leverage food policy change.

SFP Members are well-equipped to coordinate Government funding

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Areas of Wales with a preexisting Sustainable Food Places (SFP) food partnership, when compared to areas without, have been able to better co-ordinate the £2.5 million Welsh government food poverty fund.  As a result of their progressed partnership development, SFP members have been able to immediately put that money to work addressing the root causes of food poverty. This research shows that SFP members are well equipped to quickly, proactively and effectively coordinate government funding. 

The value of local food partnerships, Covid and beyond

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We are pleased to share with you this University West of England report showcasing the value and achievements of Local Food Partnerships as they pivoted to respond to a period of national crisis. With a range of case studies from our vibrant network, this report highlights how our members stepped up to play a vital role in the food crisis relief effort, and continue to fill the leadership gap on local food issues in the post pandemic environment. 

Past Reports from when the programme was called 'Sustainable Food Cities'

• Phase 2 Evaluation Report from the University of the West of England (May 2019)

• Public Health professionals’ assessment of Sustainable Food Cities - Making the case for a place-based systems approach to healthy and sustainable food (Oct 2017). 
• Making the case for a systems approach to healthy and sustainable food - a draft tool we have developed that can help to measure progress against key health, economic and environmental outcomes using proxy indicators. It can also be used to help demonstrate the effectiveness of your approach.