Sustainable Food

Sustainable Food

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New for 2005

Sustainable Food Guide

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Take a quick bite of our Sustainable Food Awareness Programme

Sustainable Food - News About Food...
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT UPDATES
are brought to you by kind permission of Sustain:
the alliance for better food and farming www.sustainweb.org

14th September 2005

EAF funded project called Fish 'n' Kids that goals to get sustainable seafood onto the menus in schools and restaurants, and to raise awareness through education materials and a web-based resource for kids, teacher and catering staff. A summary of the project is available at http://www.msc.org/html/ni_153.htmFor more information contact Laura Stewart, Foodservice Project Manager, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) on 0 207 350 4000 or laura.stewart@msc.org
The French public health law on unhealthy foodThe recent French public health law includes some clauses regarding junk food and vending machines. It sets strict guidelines regarding the advertising of 'unhealthy' food, but at the same time offers the companies a buy-out clause that enables them to promote unhealthy food if they pay a tax, which then supports health promotion campaigns. All vending machines in schools have to be got rid of by September this year. cpeckham@alimenterra.org

The funding for South West RegionDEFRA’s Food Procurement Implementation Group (FPIG) has allocated up to £15,000 to fund pilot distribution and supply chain development work in the South West Region. The funding will be limited to either one £15k contract or two £7.5k contracts, depending on the response. The project(s) will work with farmers, growers, food producers, retailers and distributors to - support businesses seeking to supply the public sector, - identify business opportunities for suppliers- develop suppliers and supply chains for the public sector with procurement officers - share information on good practice. The closing date for responses is passed but details of activities are available from jessica.harper@gosw.gsi.gov.uk

Fair Trade Procurement
Value Wales (Procurement) has just started running the project that looks at ways to increase procurement of fair trade products across the public sector. It is focusing initially on mechanisms for the cost effective procurement of FT bananas. Eleanor Fisher would like to get in contact with individuals, organisations and authorities with experience of FT procurement in the public sector and would welcome any connections related to ethical sourcing and public sector procurement. Eleanor Fisher, Value Wales (Procurement), 01792 313074 (Monday to Wednesday) eleanor.fisher@wales.gsi.gov.uk

UK food makers boosted by five-a-day message.
The government's '5-a-day' logo is being featured on over 700 food brands in the UK. To qualify for a licence to use the logo, which costs GBP100, the food must not have any added sugar, fat or salt and should contain at least 80 g of fruit or vegetables. Fresh, chilled, canned, frozen and dried fruit and vegetables all qualify. A survey of almost 7,000 people by the Government revealed that fruit consumption had increased by 4.3% to around four portions, including fruit juice, although purchasing of certain vegetables had declined as there had been a 3% reduction in beta-carotene intake.

School dinner news
Schools in Greenwich that have served healthy school meals, as advised by Jamie Oliver, have reported a marked improvement in children's concentration, reading and writing ability, as well as fewer fights. Greenwich Council is now planning to offer freshly prepared meals in all its 65 primary and 13 secondary schools. A spokesman also reported that kitchen staff were more motivated, and that sickness levels had dropped. (Daily Mail, p28).
Make food fun
A study of 1,000 children throughout the world found that those who joined healthy-eating clubs were able to make healthy food choices for themselves.Daily Mirror Your Life Kids, 38, 25/07/2005

Pod cakes One of Scotland's biggest independent bakers, Kingdom Bakers in Kirkcaldy, has increased its turnover by GBP500,000 to GBP4.8m, and
the number of employees from 98 to 120, in the last 12 months, due to the launch of the 'Pancake Pod' (!) range into the profitable children's market and the introduction of a fruit-filled pancake for lunch boxes. National account manager Alastair Sherry said 'the whole market is moving towards low fat and real fruit and branding for children, it's a healthier choice'.(Kingdom Bakers.) Scotsman, 29/07/2005

Healthy Lunch boxesFrom weekly news briefing for Rosie Denison and Graham Moore on food and health 1 August 2005: Children represent 29% of all lunchbox meals eaten and 57% of all children take out a lunchbox in a fortnight. Most kids lunchbox meals are eaten at school, down 8% on last year, while school meals are also in decline. Health is an important element in lunchbox meals with 24% of foods eaten because they are healthy, and this driver is up 2%. It is becoming even more important for children (+8%) and adult females (+4%). (The Grocer July 30, 2005). It is reported that 1 in 600 school lunch boxes contain a salad (Mail on Sunday, 14.8.05, p60).

New EU directives
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) reports that two new European Directives, which come into force in the UK in January 2006, offer important opportunities to introduce social, employment and environmental initiatives into public sector contracts. The Public Sector and Utilities Directives were adopted in Europe in 2004. During the negotiation process, trade unions and non-governmental organisations at European level campaigned to strengthen the scope for considering social, employment, disability, ethical and environmental issues throughout the public contracting procedure. Real progress was made on these issues in the new Directives. For example, Article 26 of the Public Sector Directive states:
'Contracting authorities may lay down special conditions relating to the performance of a contract … The conditions governing the performance of a contract may, in particular, concern social and environmental considerations.' Recital 33 states:
'Contract performance conditions … may, in particular, be intended to favour on-site vocational training, the employment of people experiencing particular difficulty in achieving integration, the fight against unemployment or the protection of the environment.' Recital 33 goes on to include compliance with basic ILO Conventions and recruiting more disabled people as initiatives that may also be included.
TUC believes, the UK Government seems to have adopted a narrow and minimalist interpretation of the new Directives. It cites for example, the Office of Government Commerce Sustainable Procurement Group, in its Joint Note on Social Issues in Purchasing, states that the new Public Sector Directive 'clarifies the scope to take social and environmental issues into account' at the relevant stages of the procurement process. Yet this Directive does not merely clarify the existing position, it offers important new opportunities. Further details from nstanley@tuc.org.uk

NEWS Environment and agriculture ministers head for London and sustainabilityEnvironment and agriculture ministers from across Europe gathered in London on 9 - 12 Sept for a key meeting aimed to put sustainable principles into practice. Transport, governance as well as procurement are involved in achieving sustainability for the event. As far as possible, food and drink will be British or fair trade. More at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2005/050907b.htm

Sustainable seafood project
EVENTS Social Food Enterprise Conference, 19th SeptemberSomerset Food Links and the Co-op are hosting a one-day conference in Taunton to explore the opportunities offered by co-operative approaches within the local food system. The conference is designed to highlight the crucial role social enterprise and co-operation play in a sustainable local food economy and showcase best practice. For details and bookings see www.foodlinks.org.uk/documents/events/Flier.pdf Growing the Future Conference, 27^th SeptemberA one-day conference on organic and local food in school meals and education will be held at the National Botanic Garden of Wales on Tuesday 27^th September 2005.  The aim of this conference is to publicize good examples of organic and local food being used in school meals and the opportunities for related educational activities. Flyer available for downloading at  www.organic.aber.ac.uk/schoolsnet . Contact Jane Powell: jnp@aber.ac.uk 01970 621530
Better School Food Conference, 29 SeptemberThe Better School Food Conference organised by Government Office for the South East will be held on Thursday, 29th September from 10.15am to 4.15 pm at the University of Sussex. Delegate fee: £39.95 including VAT, Contact Margaret Atkins 01732 746644 margaretatkins@macomms.co.uk
Leading by Example - Sustainable Procurement in the Public Sector, 19th October
Defra, Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and OGCbuying.solutions will host a national conference for central & local government departments, the wider public sector and public sector suppliers that will look into the next steps in transforming sustainable procurement in the public sector. The conference will take place on Wednesday 19th October 2005 at QEII Conference Centre in London and will provide key figures from the new Sustainable Procurement Task force as well as eminent specialists within procurement. Confirmed speakers include Martin Sykes, Executive Director, Smarter Procurement, OGCand Susannah Senior, Sustainable Development Commission. Food is one of the topics to be covered in the seven planned workshops. Contact Ian Barker ian.barker@govnet.co.uk 0161 211 3012 or 07793 634 723. For the full programme information see: http://www.govnet.co.uk/procurement/programme.htm   Sustainable food in hospitals, 10th NovemberThe joint Sustain-Soil Association London Hospital project is nearing the end of its first phase to get 10% of routine catering in 4 London NHS hospitals from local and/or organic sources (funded by ERDP and the Kings Fund). To celebrate the project's success Sustain has teamed up with the Kings Fund to disseminate work at a national conference on 10th November in London. Aimed at NHS trust managers, it hopes to systematise and expand sustainable food catering in hospitals. A project report will be available as will an analysis by the Kings Fund's public health lead on opportunities for sustainable food within the Better Hospital Food Programme. The event will be chaired by Professor Kevin Morgan of Cardiff University. More details via http://www.kingsfund.org.uk/resources/events/healthy.html or call Dan or Emma at Sustain 020 7837 1228.  PUBLICATIONS

Making the case for sustainable procurement: the NHS as a good corporate citizenThis briefing aims to make the case for good procurement practice within the wider context of the NHS as a ‘good corporate citizen'. It illustrates how procurement can be undertaken in a more sustainable manner and is intended for NHS staff responsible for procurement and also for trust boards and local authorities. There are various 'hooks' for food.http://www.publichealth.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=514063
Towards Sustainability - Facing the futureThe NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency's second sustainability report, Towards Sustainability - Facing the future, has been published. It contains information on environmental, social and economic impacts, and comments on innovation, healthcare associated infections, collaborative procurement hubs and sustainable procurement. The full report is web-based and can be found at: http://www.pasa.nhs.uk/sustainabledevelopment/2005/ To comment or provide feedback on the report e-mail to environment@pasa.nhs.uk  West Midlands' reportsThe three Defra funded West Midlands pilots have now completed their reports and they are available to download on the Farming and Food West Midlands site:http://www.farmingandfood-westmidlands.org.uk/resources/procure/promote4.htm#draftprop0505 1.Growing a Healthy Food Economy: Linking Producers with Public Sector Purchasers http://www.farmingandfood-westmidlands.org.uk/papers/ghfe_final.pdf2.Developing a Flexible and Sustainable Supply Chain Model to provide Local Food into Schools
http://www.farmingandfood-westmidlands.org.uk/papers/greengroce.doc3.Localising school meal supply chains in Shropshire and Worcestershire
http://www.farmingandfood-westmidlands.org.uk/papers/sch_supply.pdf And a map of Selected Producer Groups in Herefordshire can be accessed at: http://www.farmingandfood-westmidlands.org.uk/local/hereford/herefordshire.swf

North East Land Links' report on local authority food procurement
North East Land Links (NELL) have completed a survey of local authority food procurement practices in the north east of England . The findings together with proposals for how current practices might be amended to take into account the objectives of the PSFPI can be found in the report ‘ A review of local authority food procurement in the north east of England ’. This work was funded by the Countryside Agency and One North East. Copies of the report can be obtained from NELL.
For further information regarding PSFPI related activity in the north east please contact Bill Kirkup, North East Land Links Project Manager, 0191 441 4402, email bill.kirkup@necf.org.uk.
North East sets out to realise public benefit of buying local

A bid to spread the benefits of local procurement across a whole UK region has been launched on 1 August 2005 in the North East, following the publication of a new guide from nef (the new economics foundation). A new guide to public procurement, 'Public spending for Public Benefit' draws on five years engagement with policy makers and practitioners to show how local authorities and other public bodies can use their purchasing power to promote local economic development. More information on http://www.neweconomics.org/gen/news_publicspendingforpublicbenefit.aspx or contact Ruth Potts, nef communications, 020 7820 6357, 07749 026 203, ruth.potts@neweconomics.org

MAY 05

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MAR 05

JAN 2005

DEC 2004

Compiled by Daniel Keech, Sustainable Food Chains

Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming

www.sustainweb.org

Tel: 020 7837 1228 (Wed & Thur)

or 01225 787921 (Mon, Tues, Fri)

EAT WELL, EAT FRESH AND EAT SLOWLY

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