– North East leaders, businesses, farmers, food producers, and many more are working with citizens from across the UK to shape a new government Food Strategy
– The North East was the fourth of the What Works Here Inquiries and involved representatives from across the region’s food system coordinated by farmer and regional expert Tom Burston
– The Inquiries are being led by the Citizen Advisory Council (CAC), a group of citizens from across the UK, who are working with government to understand the way food works in the North East, the challenges for many families in affording healthy, local produce and how national government could help
A report, out today, reveals insights from the What Works Here Inquiries in the North East Combined Authority region (consisting of Northumberland, North Tyneside, Newcastle upon Tyne, South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland, and County Durham). It draws on the expertise and knowledge of citizens involved in shaping the government’s new Food Strategy as well as a deep understanding of the region’s food system contributed by the local leaders, business owners, community organisers, farmers and more. Together they identified conditions necessary for the region’s food to thrive:
- Building the infrastructure regions need: investing in processing, storage, and distribution creates the conditions for diverse food businesses to thrive
- Fair relationships between producers and buyers: stable and fairly-priced markets through direct sales or cooperatives allow producers to plan and invest
- Supporting partnerships over the long term: sustained support allows food partnerships to build relationships, share knowledge, and coordinate action in the region, linking producers with food banks, schools with farmers, communities with resources
- Connecting production with food security support: infrastructure and coordination is needed to help regional farmers supply food banks with fresh, local produce
- Giving regions the authority to address local realities: regional leaders understand their communities’ challenges but lack the authority and resources to act
The report shows the value of listening to people who understand the North East’s food system and know what works. The Food Strategy is a chance to build on the good work happening already and unblock remaining barriers to progress.
Tom Burston, farmer and regional expert, said:
“The What Works Here Inquiry has shown that the foundations of a vibrant local food system are being worked out by the brilliant folk of the North East. It’s found clear evidence of the amount of thought, creativity and time that underpins the North East food system. Not just to clean up the mess left behind by industrialised food encounters. But to sow the seeds of a future where money stays in local communities, encouraging sustainable jobs, where trusted connections are made that improve people’s health and where risks and rewards are shared equitably across shorter supply chains.
This is a message of hope and strength. The opportunity for the new Food Strategy is to now recognise what people and communities are already doing and to enable even more of it.”
Ross Lowrie, Head of Clean Energy and Environment at the North East Combined Authority, said:
“We know provenance matters – and here in the North East we want to see more of our fantastic food produced, sold and eaten locally. That’s why we’re investing £2 million to strengthen the region’s food supply chain, making it work better for farmers, producers and communities. This comes alongside a further £2 million to give our farmers the advice and support they need to boost productivity and profitability. Through our Carbon & Nature Marketplace, we’re also helping foodbanks access more fresh, local produce – because doing right by food not only cuts carbon, but it also helps tackle poverty too.”
The What Work Here Inquiries are being run in different parts of England – from Cornwall to Yorkshire, Merseyside and the North East. Citizens will soon be presenting their findings to government and working to find ways that the Food Strategy can improve the way food works across the country.
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