Sustainable Food

Bristol Named Gold Sustainable

Food City written by Helen Sharpe

During summer Bristol was officially awarded the status of Gold Sustainable Food City, Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor, recognising the positive work undertaken across Bristol City Council and Chairperson of

the city’s food system, seeking to solve social, the Going for Gold Steering Group said:

environmental and economic issues.

Awarded by the UK partnership programme, Sustainable Food Places, the accolade means Bristol is only the second city in the UK to achieve the status, with Brighton and Hove awarded it in 2020. The award announcement follows the work of city-wide initiative Bristol Going for Gold, led by coordinating partners Bristol Food Network, Bristol City Council, Bristol Green Capital Partnership, and Resource Futures. “Despite the most challenging of years, we’ve seen extraordinary altruism and a continued fight to resolve not just the issues caused by the pandemic but broader pre-existing social and environmental issues.

Joy Carey, Director of Bristol Food Network and

Strategic Coordinator of the gold bid says: “How we produce, trade, eat and waste food influences the most pressing issues facing us today: from climate and ecological breakdown to human health and well-being, from poverty and justice to animal welfare. This is why food matters and is why, since achieving silver status in 2016, we’ve been determined to support and uncover more individuals, projects and initiatives that are contributing positively to a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system for the city and its citizens. Bristol is brimming with people who are passionate about doing better when it comes to food and it has been our job to capture their stories and impact, whilst doing all we can to support a joined up and holistic approach to food in the city.“

“We’re delighted that this work has been recognised at the highest level, being named a Gold Sustainable Food City. We want to thank and applaud all those doing better across our city’s food system, including the citizens who have engaged with important conversations about the future of food here in Bristol." Our Gold achievement is a testament to the whole city rallying together and taking action, from citizens and organisations to policy makers. More than ever there is a collective energy calling for food that is good for people, communities and the planet to be available to everyone in Bristol. This award makes clear that Bristol is on the right path towards a better food future for all citizens.”

The bid to achieve Gold Sustainable Food City status has been supported by sponsors, Essential Trading, GenEco and Lovely Drinks.

Joy Carey, Director of Bristol

Says Mohammed Saddiq, Chair of Bristol Food Network, concludes: Green Capital Partnership: “Bristol Green Capital Partnership is delighted to have “This moment is one to be helped coordinate Bristol’s successful bid to celebrated, but most definitely be a Gold Sustainable Food City. The aim not an end point for us and of bringing the whole city together to creall the other key stakeholders ate a fairer, greener, healthier food system in this project. We’re gearing perfectly aligns with our work, which seeks up to start work on the Bristol to foster city-wide collaboration on a range Good Food 2030 action plan, of environmental issues and make links which will see a more joined between them. In the past year – and since up approach to tackling issues we supported the launch of the Bristol Bites such as food insecurity, access Back Better campaign in response to the to land for growing and food pandemic – there has been huge levels waste, as well as finding better of interest and action from the city’s busi-ways to empower Bristolians nesses that are intent on doing better. The to create a healthy, accessible Partnership will be continuing to support and diverse food system fit for and motivate organisations to take further the next decade. and faster action to help Bristol meet its ambitious climate and ecological goals. It’s so important that this plan Food will be a key part of this, and the rela-is framed around the real tionships and collaboration that have come needs and hopes of our city’s out of the work to achieve this status are an people and communities, and ideal platform to build upon.”that’s why we’re asking everyone to ‘Join the Conversation’ to share their vision for food in Bristol.” To view a summary document of the winning bid for gold status, visit: www. goingforgoldbristol. co.uk/bristols-gold-foodsubmission/

To join the city-wide conversation that is set to continue as part of Bristol Bites Back Better, visit: https://www. goingforgoldbristol.co.uk/ jointheconversation/

Tom Andrews, Sustainable Food Places Programme Director at the Soil Association:

“It is incredibly inspiring that even in these most challenging of times Bristol has continued to power ahead with its efforts to become a truly sustainable food city. This award recognises the achievements of the myriad of initiatives from the Children’s Kitchen to the Grow Wilder Centre and from UWE and the University of Bristol’s success in transforming their catering and procurement to the Food Clubs set up across the city to provide low-cost nutritious meals to families. It is a fantastic team effort involving countless individuals and organisations and testament to the passion and commitment of everyone involved in building a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system.

At the heart of the Sustainable Food Places programme is a belief that good food is a right not a privilege and this principle is clearly evident in everything the city has done. Bristol stands out as a shining example of just what can be achieved when people work together to make healthy and sustainable food a defining characteristic of where they live.”