A survey of Civil Society Organisations working on food issues reveals that food poverty has risen up the agenda of concerns (though it still lacks funding) and that a fifth of food CSOs get some of their funding from the EU.
The original Food Issues Census, published by Sustain member the Food Ethics Council in 2011, was the first ever effort to develop a picture of voluntary sector activity on food, farming and fishing – covering everything from small-scale, local initiatives to well-known, national (or even global) organisations.
This second census, conducted last year, repeats the exercise -- and finds some changes in the landscape. Food poverty's rise up the menu of concerns was one, accompanied (less explicably) by a fall in the amount of activity on animal husbandry. The dependence of one fifth of food CSOs on the EU for at least part of their funding raises uncertainty over what will happen after Brexit.
Overall, funding remained tight, with more and more competition for available resources. The report concludes that food attracts a disproportionately small amount of CSO spending and attention, given its crucial role in human health and environmental change.
Read the full report here. Sustain campaigns for a healthier, greener and fairer food system. Find more about our activities here.
Published Friday 10 March 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
