Consultation opens to help Glasgow on its journey towards a better food system for all.

The Glasgow City Food Plan consultation has recently been launched. A multi-agency project group has developed the Food Plan as a framework for the city. The plan aims to tackle a range of environmental, health and well being challenges by improving the food system. The consultation is open until the end of December 2020 and online events will be published on Glasgow Food Policy Partnership website.

Affordable healthy food is vital for the health and well-being of the people of Glasgow, never more so than the present time.

The Glasgow City Food Plan, which has been in development since the Glasgow Food Summit held in May 2019, sets out a long-term vision and approach to achieving a food system in Glasgow that is fair, resilient and environmentally sustainable and enables everyone in Glasgow to eat healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate Good Food irrespective of where they live, their income or personal circumstances. Good Food is food that is accessible, affordable, tasty and healthy, good for the planet and good for those who work in the food industry. Good Food is good for society, for health, for the environment and for the economy.

The recent coronavirus pandemic has proved how important our food system is and why it needs to be more resilient. The Food Plan that is going out for public consultation today reflects the city’s experience and learning from the pandemic, as well as recognising the pressing need to build a food system in Glasgow that is good for our citizens, our health and our environment and helps our city recover and rebuild in an equitable way.

The Food Plan that is being consulted on is ambitious yet achievable. It proposes actions that build on the resources and tremendous work that is already established in Glasgow to address food insecurity, to improve health, to build community resilience, to develop a stronger local food economy, to provide local, seasonal food more affordably across the city and to reduce the environmental impact of our food system. It describes the route map for a more connected approach to achieving Good Food in Glasgow. The Plan was developed collaboratively and is not owned by any one body in the city – it is a Food Plan for the whole city. The work of the plan will be overseen by the Community Planning Partnership in recognition of the important role that food plays in achieving improved equity, health, environmental sustainability and a thriving local economy.

Dr Linda de Caestecker, Director of Public Health, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Affordable healthy food is vital for the health and well-being of the people of Glasgow, never more so than the present time. It is also important to consider how and where food is produced to reduce its impact on the environment. This plan plays an important part in improving public health in this area.”

Abi Mordin, chair of Glasgow Community Food Network, continues: “Nutritious food is fundamental to our physical and mental health. It is a human right and allows our children to grow and develop. Sharing food allows us to experience different cultures, build stronger community networks, tackle loneliness and isolation and provide intergenerational learning opportunities”.

“Many people and organisations in Glasgow are working on different aspects of our food system, within local areas and across the city; addressing health, food insecurity, food waste, sustainability and the food economy. All of these matter, for our own well-being and that of our planet. Imagine what we could achieve by working on these issues in a more concerted and connected way within Glasgow? That’s the ambition for our first Glasgow Food Plan” says Fiona Moss, Head of Health Improvement and Equalities, Glasgow HSCP.

Councillor Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction continues “Our complex food system excludes those who lack the money or resources to access good food, it lets too much food go to waste, and it can have a significant effect on the environment through carbon emissions which contribute to climate change, as well as through impacts on air and water pollution and on biodiversity. Working together with city-wide partners to change the system will ensure that we take action that improves our residents’ lives while reducing emissions.”

The Food Plan has six themes:

• Food poverty - fair food for all
• Community food
• Food procurement
• Food economy
• Food waste and the environment, and
• Children and young people.

The Food Plan working group believes it is important that the final version reflects the needs and priorities of the people of Glasgow and enables everyone to be part of a more just, sustainable, healthy food system. Feedback on the proposals is invited from communities, citizens, businesses and stakeholders across the city.

The consultation is now open for responses on the Glasgow City Council Website. Individuals, businesses and organisations in Glasgow are invited to submit views on this draft using their knowledge and expertise about what works and what more is needed to move towards a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system. The consultation closes on 31st December 2020. More information about the Food Plan can be found on Glasgow Food Policy Partnership’s website.

The development of the GCFP has been led by multisector working group comprising Glasgow City Council, Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board, Glasgow City HSCP, Glasgow Community Food Network, Glasgow Centre for Population Health and the Glasgow Food Policy Partnership.

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