Simon Parkes asks what the state can do to transform the food and farming industries, and the quality of the meals eaten in public institutions, by changing its own purchasing habits. Food Matters: Towards a Strategy for the 21st Century presents the government’s vision of a future food environment where healthy eating is the norm, supply chains are more sustainable and food businesses, including farmers, are profitable.
And it states that government itself must lead by example in the way it spends the £2 billion for food in our schools, hospitals, prisons, buying food that supports local businesses and farmers, is more environmentally sustainable, including organic, and is then turned into fresh, healthy meals.
We hear from the AlimenTerra conference in Dublin (May) about the role of public procurement in sustainable sourcing, including Trevor Sergeant, Irish Minister for Agriculture; Mayor Jacques Boutot from the 2nd Arrondisement in Paris; Maria from co-operative Agricolas Pueblos Blancos in Spain.
We talk to Professor Kevin Morgan from Cardiff University and author of The School Food Revolution about how the UK compares, and where best practice is found.
We see one successful English programme in action. Part of Sustain’s “Good Food on the Public Plate” project, it brought hospitals together with local farmers. We talk to Mike Ducket, Catering Services Manager at the Royal Brompton Hospital and Doug Wanstall from “hub” farm Bank Farm.
And Simon Parkes talks to Sir Don Curry, chair of the Sustainable Farming & Food Delivery Group within DEFRA.
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Presenting The Food Programme has been Sheila's perfect job.