Bridging the Gap policy review

Sustain’s Bridging the Gap programme seeks to understand how we can make climate and nature-friendly food, specifically organic or agroecologically produced fruit and vegetables affordable for all. In this report, we explore examples of programmes and policies in the UK and internationally that might contribute to “bridging the gap” between people on low incomes and climate and nature-friendly fruit and veg. These case studies offer inspiration for the range of measures that might be taken across the four nations to enhance the health of people and our planet.

Bridging the Gap policy review
2024 | 633Kb

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Reports Bridging the Gap

Published: Tuesday 16 July 2024

Executive summary

The Bridging the Gap programme explores ways for people on low incomes to access climate and nature-friendly food. In this report, we review a range of policies and interventions that could form part of a raft of measures introduced in the UK to allow us to achieve this goal. These stretch across six core areas, including:

  • Adopting a horticulture strategy that includes specific support for organic growing.
  • Supporting cooperative forms of farming, or collaboration through farm clusters, to reinforce small organic producers and enable stronger routes to market.
  • Introducing a minimum wage specific to agriculture workers.
  • Setting targets for organic food in public sector procurement, reinforced by supportive funding and legislation.
  • Supporting inherently local retail including mobile vending and farmers markets, as well as a wider growth plan to engage larger retailers in increasing access to organic food for lower income groups.
  • Recognising the public health benefits of cash transfer schemes (such as vouchers), with increased value for organic and sustainable produce.
  • Investing in food hubs thereby supporting the supply of organic produce from smaller producers, via the introduction of infrastructure grants.

Contents

  • Executive summary  
  • Introduction  
  • Horticulture and organic farming  
  • Fair wages in farming  
  • Public sector procurement   
  • Local retail   
  • Vouchers and fruit and veg on prescription  
  • Food hubs and wholesale    
  • Next steps   

Bridging the Gap: Bridging the Gap to climate and nature friendly food for all.

Sustain
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Sustain advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, promote equity and enrich society and culture.

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