So - what do we all really want from food?
The National Food Conversation has been published and it's fascinating, and easily digestable!
Thousands of people were asked, in a variety of ways, about the potential things that could happen to improve our system.
The headlines are below - but the conversation found overhwelmingly that people - across ages and political spectrums - want substantial changes.
More of the findings are here.
So, how do we work together to make this happen?!
The common ground:
People want
- A healthier, greener food environment, including restrictions on junk food advertising, higher standards for catering in spaces like schools and hospitals, and tighter controls on the availability and marketing of ultra-processed foods.
- Support for farmers to farm more sustainably, going beyond existing policies with more investments and incentives to do the right things
- Taxes and regulations to hold big food businesses to account, such as adopting the polluter pays principle for environmental harm and to reduce production of unhealthy foods
- Practical help for citizens to eat more healthily and sustainably, for example by redistributing revenues from taxes/fines on food companies so those on low incomes can afford healthy and sustainable food; better information campaigns about the impacts of the food system; and better labelling.
- Visible leadership from politicians and business leaders when it comes to food, and a plan of action that brings together the different parts of government, building on the National Food Strategy.