Food, Farming and Countryside Commission

📚 New report: Unhealthy food is costing UK over £250 billion Analysis from Prof Tim Jackson for FFCC reveals the costs of Britain’s unhealthy food system amount to £268 billion every year – almost equivalent to the total annual UK healthcare spend.  It shows the current food system is costing 4 x more in health-related costs than it would cost to fix it – and that the way we eat, grow and produce food is imposing a staggering financial burden on the British economy. The report draws on, amongst other evidence, the latest findings from #TheFoodConversation, which shows the extent of the public’s appetite for government intervention on food. It comes ahead of the Citizens Food Summit, which brings together citizens with leaders in food, farming, business, health and politics to call for urgent reform to food in the UK. Read The Guardian exclusive: https://lnkd.in/ewbaAN54 Read Tim’s report: https://lnkd.in/eMTKUEqS

For those in UK civil society organisations working on, with or via food, that aren’t on a festive break, please do respond to the Food Issues Census - see below. Share your priorities with funders + help get a clearer collective picture of what's happening and what is needed. 🎉 Season's greetings!

🌲📚 Christmas reading... It's been a busy time of the year for us. Last month, we published: 💰'The False Economy of Big Food' with Tim Jackson, exposing the true costs of unhealthy food to the UK economy – £268 billion – while Big Food companies continue to make eye-watering profits 👉 https://lnkd.in/eMTKUEqS 🗣 'Changing the Conversation', our interim report from #TheFoodConversation, showing how citizens see the food system – and their appetite for government intervention 👉 https://lnkd.in/e4nbUeVu 📜 The Citizen Manifesto – an early preview of the top five messages citizens want decision makers to hear, ahead of the launch of the National Citizen Manifesto in 2025 👉 https://lnkd.in/eYaSGGWy

There is something about the solstice and ‘the deep midwinter’ that makes it easier for me to shut the laptop for a while, and turn inwards for some quiet reflection and gentle rebalancing. Before I do, I want to say thank you. While my Food, Farming and Countryside Commission team has been incredibly busy, accomplishing extraordinary work with The Food Conversation, the farming transition, a land use framework, the Hope Farm project, and across all four nations, I’ve had to deal with some tough personal stuff this year. To my team, board, commissioners, and funders, and to all our many friends, allies, citizens, and partners who have shown up in support of our work, and for me personally, when I’ve needed you: I want to say thank you - for your unwavering commitment to our shared purpose, and most of all for your friendship, generosity, love and kindness. Together, we will be an unstoppable force in 2025.

Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP announcement that the Government will develop a new National Food Strategy in 2025 is good news. A national food strategy was one of two main calls at the Sustainable Food Places Day of Action in Parliament last month. Every nation needs a food strategy. The other call that day was for a food partnership in every local authority area, building on the existing 114 food partnerships in the UK taking a cross-sector, systems approach to transformation. Every nation needs a food strategy; everyarea needs a home for good food. I echo the sentiments of many of those who responded to the announcement. Anna Taylor of the The Food Foundation  welcomed the systems approach. This is part of the power of food, it demands collaboration between, and within, sectors. Mhairi Brown, RNutr from the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission asked the key questions ‘who is the strategy for’ and ‘who will influence it’? Steve Reed and Defra will be inundated with those wanting to steer the development of this strategy. The food system is about as complex as systems can get and affects, well, everyone. Sustainable Food Places have been supporting food strategy development for over a decade in cities, counties, regions, and nations. This blog captures a little of what we have learnt that might help in the challenging work ahead https://lnkd.in/e4eTQhht And a reminder, it is not all about the numbers… Tonnes of carbon saved or changes in BMI may tell us something, but when did food only become about crises and negatives? Could a decent food strategy make it about culture, celebration, and beautiful landscapes too? Let’s be hopeful, let’s be cautious, let’s be involved. Have a good break everyone.

As part of #TheFoodConversation over the past year, we've been hearing from people across the UK about what food means to them and how they want the system to change. Young people like Emma want to be able to afford healthy, sustainable food that pays farmers a fair price. Instead, they’re bombarded with junk food advertising and deals. Read our latest report and Citizen Manifesto from #TheFoodConversation 👉 https://lnkd.in/e5TZqVbz 

A great last repost before I sign off It is a privilege and fascinating to work for an organisation that operates across the countries of the UK. Particularly in this time of fundamental transition in agriculture, land use and food and as all governments design & develop their responses to the interconnected challenges faced. An thoughtful end of year message from Sue Pritchard here as she considers 'Are we making a just transition - and fast enough? 'Whose voices count?' and 'What works to help change happen?' Looking forward to doing in 2025 💪

"The work is only just beginning. There will be much to do in 2025. So, as we take a much-needed Christmas break, and prepare for another busy year ahead, I’ll end with another quotation from George Bernard Shaw. “Forget about likes and dislikes. They are of no consequence. Just do what must be done.” As we publish our Annual Report for 2023-2024, our Chief Exec Sue Pritchard reflects on the past year – and the work to do ahead. Read Sue's message in full 👇 or go straight to our Annual Report 👉 https://lnkd.in/dpNKa3fU

🍏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 The Scottish Food Commission are looking to appoint their first four members to their Board 🍏 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 This is an exciting opportunity to lead the strategic direction of a new public body, oversee the provisions made in the Good Food Nation Act, and help create a fairer, healthier and more sustainable Scottish food system. Find out more and apply at 👉 https://lnkd.in/eHv9uiww More on our work in Scotland 👉 https://lnkd.in/eAaatzSr

Lovely to see our report, written by Prof Tim Jackson, featured in CUSP | Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity's end of year newsletter – alongside some other impressive achievements. The 'False Economy of Big Food' revealed that the costs of Britain’s unhealthy food system amount to £268 billion every year – almost equivalent to the total annual UK healthcare spend. With plans for a food strategy announced by Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs only last week, we look forward to seeing how they develop in light of our analysis. Read the CUSP newsletter below 👇 and the 'False Economy of Big Food' here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eMTKUEqS