Regional & local food - Government
strategy annex
Summary of Stakeholder Responses to Sustainable Food and Farming - Working
Together
Section 4: Farming and the Food Chain
4.10 What more should be done by business and Government to expand the
range and market share of value-added, niche, regional, local or specialist
products?
Action for Government and other interested organisations
- A strong emphasis should be placed on a co-ordinated Government strategy,
with RDAs and FFB playing a lead role, with tourism strategy an important
aspect (the Eat the View principle is popular) and with Local
Authorities brought into the frame regarding planning permission etc
for farmers' markets.
- More grants and subsidies should be available for regional and local
food projects
- Develop local food sector by "bottom up" approach rather
than by central organisation. FFB does not have relevant experience
to lead in this area. Instead, give support to local food organisations
grouped within Food Links UK in co-operation with Countryside Agency.
- Concern about the transfer from the CA to FFB of the Eat the View initiative, as FFB lack specific skills of CA.
- More local abattoirs and processing facilities should be made available
- Marketing co-ops should be encouraged
- Business training for diversifying farmers should be provided
- More funding should be given to the NAFM and the principle of accredited
farmers' markets should be supported.
- DEFRA should have key role in minimising adverse impact of bureaucracy
and legislation on those producing and marketing such food
- The profile of regional and local foods should be raised by means
of advertising
- Two responses indicated that market forces would do all the work and
that Government intervention was not necessary.
Regional / Local Food - General Points
- The emphasis on the difference between "local" and "regional
speciality" food is useful as different development strategies
must be used.
- Localness and regionality does add value (an implicit common theme,
but only mentioned specifically by a few)
- Connecting food to its region or method of production offers possibility
of raising quality, with these products being sold as widely as possible
to the national and international markets. Important to assist the process
of connecting small producers to these markets.
- Defining localness based on shortening the physical distance from
producer to consumer. Localness important as a means of encouraging
farmers and other food producers to diversify into value-added local
marketing, ie. farmers markets and farm shops
- Distribution is a major stumbling block for local producers. If more
funds are allocated to local food groups, provision for local distribution
networks/systems could be made and could be organised at county level,
not regional.
Need for More Local Sourcing
- Supermarkets damage regional and local food identities and should
be encouraged to do more to source, stock and promote regional, speciality
and local food.
- Schools, hospitals and other local authority bodies should be encouraged
to use locally sourced food.
Labelling and EU Protected Food Name Schemes
- Clear and honest labelling must be used.
- Greater use should be made of the EU Protected Food Name Schemes
- Regional and Local Foods Branch, AERF Division, December 2002
Page last modified:
23 August 2007
