On 13 November, Granite City Good Food Coordinator, Martin Carle, attended the Sustainable Food Places Day of Celebration and Action at Portcullis House, Westminster, where over 114 Local Food Partnerships and local MPs came together to showcase and discuss their commitment and achievement in progressing the case for fairer and more sustainable food systems. The event highlighted the importance of local food partnerships, a good food bill in every nation, and the need for resources to ensure sustainable change around food.
In this blog post, Martin shares his reflections of attending the event and being part of the expert panel- a food partnership from each nation of the UK highlighting the importance of sustainable food systems change.
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How do we create a sustainable food system?
How do we ensure widespread access to healthy, sustainable food? How do we support the development of a strong local food economy? How do we prioritise planet-friendly food? These - and more - are questions food partnerships, such as Granite City Good Food, and their stakeholders ask on a daily basis. What's more, the recent Sustainable Food Places Day of Celebration and Action made it loud and clear that food partnerships also have the answers.
The Sustainable Food Places Network facilitates a whole-systems approach to food at local level through its six key areas and, in doing so, food partnerships like Granite City Good Food ensure local food systems work for people, planet, and the local economy.
Personally, it was an honour to be asked to present and be part of the expert panel at the event- a representative food partnership from each of the four nations highlighting the importance of progressing sustainable food systems. Following the event, I wanted to share my reflections below; Granite City Good Food’s reflections on what supports sustainable food systems:
1- People make our food system.
Communities and individuals create, lead, and participate in food-based opportunities, which in turn contributes to an active 'food movement'. From established food businesses selling amazing local and seasonal produce and community food organisations creating positive change through food to initiatives such as food skills training (Aberdeen Community Food Network’s Food Champions Programme), CFINE’s Lived Experience Group, the Aberdeen City Dignity Dialogues cohort (as well as many, many more!), the city's food movement is thriving! There are lots of examples of where people are part of the fabric of our local food system and it was a privilege to highlight some of these groups as part of my presentation.
2- Place-based interventions are what facilitate and emphasise the impact and changes people make.
Beyond 'people power,' place-based interventions facilitate and emphasise the change being created. Community development and projects developed through community gardens and greenspace, community spaces, centres, and other community assets showcase the best of sustainable food at community level, as well as celebrating what makes the 'place' unique.
Examples of this include CFINE Growing Skills courses based directly in community gardens, the successful Community Garden Festivals - and the legacy they have left in terms of other events, activities, and networks which have developed following, as well as community cooking skills classes (such as Confidence 2 Cook classes delivered by community organisations in the city) and many more!
3- Decision makers can and do want to listen, and the work food partnerships support are often recognised and reflected in key strategic change.
Finally, events such as the Day of Celebration and Action demonstrate that decision makers are keen to listen and support where they can, something consistent with our own experience in Aberdeen City. Beyond policy interventions at national level, such as the Good Food Nation, there are lots of different examples where commitment in policy and practice have been evident. These include:
This year, Aberdeen City is celebrating 20 years of commitment to Aberdeen City Fairtrade Community status, and the work of the Aberdeen City Fair and Sustainable Trade Group reflects this ongoing commitment through the involvement of a wide range of partners.
Food Poverty Action Aberdeen, this year, launched its action plan, reflecting the work of community food organisations actively collaborating and leading the way in planning around tackling food poverty and insecurity and promoting cash first approaches to food support.
Aberdeen City, in 2022, committed to the Glasgow Declaration for Food and Climate – aligned with COP 26, which took place in Glasgow. This commitment represented a wider commitment by Aberdeen City Council around climate and biodiversity, and represented commitment to planet-friendly food.
All-in-all, the Day of Celebration and Action highlighted how food partnerships, as critical infrastructure, create and sustain food systems which are sustainable and facilitate good access to food. The event was a brilliant opportunity for food partnerships to come together, with MPs and elected representatives, and to celebrate the role food partnerships play in creating positive food change.
The day was also shone a light on why Aberdeen is currently trying to become one of the most sustainable food places in Scotland through it's #TurnTheGraniteCityGold campaign and award bid.
To find out more about our work in Aberdeen City, why not follow the #TurnTheGraniteCityGold blog series?
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