Building Sustainable Food Systems at County Level
Sustainable Food Places is a network of over 110 food partnerships across the UK working towards creating more sustainable local food systems. The network started 10 years ago as Sustainable Food Cities, reflecting a smaller and more citywide approach to looking at food systems. Nowadays, almost half of these partnerships work at county level, highlighting the increasing recognition of the unique challenges and opportunities of working on rural and county-based food systems, and the necessity of this joined-up thinking.
Since early 2021, we have played a key role in facilitating collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and co-creation among county food partnerships across England. This support has culminated in the development of the Sustainable Food Places County Food Partnerships Guide, a comprehensive resource aimed at ensuring the success and sustainability of food partnerships working at county level.
Understanding County-Based Food Partnerships
While food partnerships can look quite different depending on the region they serve, there are significant differences between working at the county level and within urban or city environments. At the county level, food partnerships are often dealing with a more complex set of challenges due to the geographical scale, diverse stakeholder groups, and the presence of both urban and rural areas. Unlike cities, which tend to have more concentrated populations and infrastructures, counties often feature a mix of smaller communities, rural areas, and agriculture-based economies.
These unique characteristics mean that the work of county food partnerships requires a different approach to governance, community engagement, and food systems management. County food partnerships must navigate complex political systems, collaborate with local authorities across multiple areas, and engage a broad range of stakeholders—from local councils and food producers to farmers, community groups, and environmental organisations.
Our Role: Facilitating Collaboration Across Counties
Since 2021 we have held a series of cohort sessions that bring together those working at the county level. These sessions have focused on issues unique to county partnerships—issues such as governance models, community representation, dynamic procurement, and engaging with local food producers. They have provided a space for participants to share their experiences, challenges, and solutions with each other, while also inviting external experts to offer insights on specific topics.
Some of the key themes explored in these cohort sessions have included:
– Governance: How to structure food partnerships at the county level to ensure inclusivity and effectiveness.
– Community Engagement: Building strong relationships with local communities to ensure diverse representation and participation.
– Food Producers: Strengthening connections with local food producers and improving access to local food for residents.
– Dynamic Procurement: Innovative ways to source food that is both sustainable and supports local economies.
– Bioregional Clusters: Developing food systems that are not just local, but also integrated within broader regional networks.
These county-specific discussions have allowed partnerships to explore solutions that fit their unique contexts, whether they are addressing the rural-urban divide, finding ways to engage smaller communities, or managing the complexities of local governance.
The County Food Partnerships Guide
The learning from this series of county cohort sessions has been distilled into the Sustainable Food Places County Food Partnerships Guide. This guide is designed to help new and existing county food partnerships navigate the unique challenges they face and create food systems that are sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.
The guide provides practical advice on how to launch or improve county food partnerships, offering tips on governance, stakeholder engagement, and securing long-term success. While specifically aimed at county-level partnerships, the guide is also invaluable for city-based partnerships that are looking to extend their reach into surrounding rural areas and engage with local food producers and smaller communities. It serves as a bridge between urban and rural food systems, helping partnerships work together across geographic boundaries.
Looking Ahead: A County-Level Focus for the Future
The work of county food partnerships is more important than ever as the demand for local, sustainable food systems grows. At Food Matters, we are proud to have supported this vital work and helped shape the growth of county food partnerships across the UK. As we move into the future, we are excited to see how these partnerships will continue to evolve and contribute to the sustainability of food systems at both the county and national levels.
Building Sustainable Food Systems at County Level
Sustainable Food Places is a network of over 110 food partnerships across the UK working towards creating more sustainable local food systems. The network started 10 years ago as Sustainable Food Cities, reflecting a smaller and more citywide approach to looking at food systems. Nowadays, almost half of these partnerships work at county level, highlighting the increasing recognition of the unique challenges and opportunities of working on rural and county-based food systems, and the necessity of this joined-up thinking.
Since early 2021, we have played a key role in facilitating collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and co-creation among county food partnerships across England. This support has culminated in the development of the Sustainable Food Places County Food Partnerships Guide, a comprehensive resource aimed at ensuring the success and sustainability of food partnerships working at the county level.
Understanding County-Based Food Partnerships
While food partnerships can look quite different depending on the region they serve, there are significant differences between working at the county level and within urban or city environments. At the county level, food partnerships are often dealing with a more complex set of challenges due to the geographical scale, diverse stakeholder groups, and the presence of both urban and rural areas. Unlike cities, which tend to have more concentrated populations and infrastructures, counties often feature a mix of smaller communities, rural areas, and agriculture-based economies.
These unique characteristics mean that the work of county food partnerships requires a different approach to governance, community engagement, and food systems management. County food partnerships must navigate complex political systems, collaborate with local authorities across multiple areas, and engage a broad range of stakeholders—from local councils and food producers to farmers, community groups, and environmental organisations.
Our Role: Facilitating Collaboration Across Counties
Since 2021 we have held a series of cohort sessions that bring together those working at the county level. These sessions have focused on issues unique to county partnerships—issues such as governance models, community representation, dynamic procurement, and engaging with local food producers. They have provided a space for participants to share their experiences, challenges, and solutions with each other, while also inviting external experts to offer insights on specific topics.
Some of the key themes explored in these cohort sessions have included:
– Governance: How to structure food partnerships at the county level to ensure inclusivity and effectiveness.
– Community Engagement: Building strong relationships with local communities to ensure diverse representation and participation.
– Food Producers: Strengthening connections with local food producers and improving access to local food for residents.
– Dynamic Procurement: Innovative ways to source food that is both sustainable and supports local economies.
– Bioregional Clusters: Developing food systems that are not just local, but also integrated within broader regional networks.
These county-specific discussions have allowed partnerships to explore solutions that fit their unique contexts, whether they are addressing the rural-urban divide, finding ways to engage smaller communities, or managing the complexities of local governance.
The County Food Partnerships Guide
The learning from this series of county cohort sessions has been distilled into the Sustainable Food Places County Food Partnerships Guide. This guide is designed to help new and existing county food partnerships navigate the unique challenges they face and create food systems that are sustainable, inclusive, and resilient.
The guide provides practical advice on how to launch or improve county food partnerships, offering tips on governance, stakeholder engagement, and securing long-term success. While specifically aimed at county-level partnerships, the guide is also invaluable for city-based partnerships that are looking to extend their reach into surrounding rural areas and engage with local food producers and smaller communities. It serves as a bridge between urban and rural food systems, helping partnerships work together across geographic boundaries.
Looking Ahead: A County-Level Focus for the Future
The work of county food partnerships is more important than ever as the demand for local, sustainable food systems grows. At Food Matters, we are proud to have supported this vital work and helped shape the growth of county food partnerships across the UK. As we move into the future, we are excited to see how these partnerships will continue to evolve and contribute to the sustainability of food systems at both the county and national levels.
