Londoners passionate about food and creating a sustainable food system locally are being sought for a new Middlesex-London Food Policy Council.
The new council was announced Thursday at the unveiling of the Middlesex-London Food Assessment at the Covent Garden Market. The assessment was a collaboration by the London Community Foundation, the Middlesex-London Health Unit, the City of London, and Middlesex County.
"Early on, London Community Foundation identified the community's challenge with increasing rates of food insecurity," says Martha Powell, president & CEO of the London Community Foundation. "Even though many groups are working to address the issue, there is a lack of a collaborative and systemic approach. By convening the right people, we have the opportunity to tackle food security and change the way our community thinks about food."
The food assessment identifies specific strengths and assets in the region from food production to food consumption, risk management to waste management, innovation and technology to policy and advocacy. It will be the blue print the new food council will use to chart a path towards a more local and sustainable food system.
"Londoners are way out ahead of us in recognizing that we need a strong local food system -- especially the entrepreneurs who are taking meaningful risks to do things differently," says Jesse Helmer, chair of the Middlesex-London Board of Health. "I hope that the Middlesex London Food Policy Council will be a means for Londoners to make change at the systems level to build the sustainable local food system we need."
The food policy council will work to create a community that sustains a healthy, safe, equitable and ecologically responsible food system, which nourishes all local residents and is economically viable. The goal is to facilitate and support a safe, healthy and accessible local food system that is socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable.
To apply to be on the council click here.
