How the UK Government is Improving Local Food Procurement

Pupils, patients and public sector workers in some parts of England will benefit from healthier, more sustainably sourced meals, as a selection of councils receive grants from the UK Government to strengthen food procurement in their local communities.

Councils including Middlesbrough, Brighton and Hove, Bristol and Cambridge will each receive £155,000 (US$204,624) to improve how food is procured, increase the provision of healthier and more sustainable food options and support local and small food businesses to understand better how to supply to the public sector.

Empowering local economies through public spending

Food Security Minister Dame Angela Eagle says: “With nearly £5bn (US$6.6bn) spent on food and catering in England each year, the public sector has enormous purchasing power. The government feels this presents a real opportunity to improve public health, back local businesses and build more sustainable food supply chains.

“By learning from those already leading the way, we can raise food procurement standards right across England and ensure our food procurement spend delivers for the local economy.”

Each year, England’s public sector spends £4.9bn (US$6.4bn) on food and catering. The councils who receive the grants are given a chance to learn lessons which will support others, driving sourcing missions to find healthier, more sustainable and better value food.

Recognising excellence in food sustainability

Amit Dattani, Director of Soil Association Food, adds: “We welcome the government recognising and investing in best practice within the chosen local authority areas having either our Food for Life Served Here Gold certification, or Sustainable Food Places Gold award. It’s a positive and encouraging step that our Soil Association programmes are understood for the lasting and transformative changes they create within a local food system.

“Through the investment into local procurement, data that will be collected and the spotlight on the programmes, this is an important opportunity to show just how much positive change can be implemented when time, expertise and funding is available to support a local food system.”

The goal of this is to use public spending power to support more sustainable food procurement practices across England and work towards the government’s ambition for at least half of all public sector food to be sourced locally or certified to higher environmental standards.

The grants also build on each council’s Gold Food for Life Served Here or Gold Sustainable Food Places accreditation, recognising national-leading practice and long-term, transformational change in food procurement.

Building a resilient national food cycle

This work forms part of the government’s Good Food Cycle, contributing to healthier and more sustainable food environments that meet high animal welfare standards and environmentally sustainable supply chains and resilient domestic food production.

Kath Dalmeny, Chief Executive of the Sustain food and farming alliance that helps to run the Sustainable Food Places Network, says: “We’re thrilled to see five leading Sustainable Food Places enabled to support British and sustainable farmers get their food onto people’s plates, in schools and hospitals around the country.

"Public sector food buying contracts – paid for by taxpayers’ money – are an essential way for places to help more British farmers produce healthy food in a way that restores nature, preserves soil and vital pollinators, and reduces dangerous greenhouse gas emissions.

“Defra’s investment in helping local councils and food partnerships to be able to roll up their sleeves and facilitate the contracts, and the flow of fresh food supplies into public catering services is very welcome news. With a focus on fruit, veg and pulses, what a great way to help British horticulture to grow and thrive! We look forward to learning from these initiatives and seeing them rolled out in more places over time.”