We have very recently completed our report: Sustainable Fayre, for Manchester City Council, which extensively explores ways for Manchester Fayre (the Council's in-house caterer responsible for school meals etc.) to lower the carbon impact of its food purchases and increase the uptake of sustainable food in the city, actively contributing to Manchester's Climate Change Action Plan.
The hundred-odd page report (see below) has been completed over twelve months and is the result of a unique partnership between The Kindling Trust, Food Futures and Manchester Fayre. The report has explored ways Manchester Fayre could purchase local organic (hence sustainable) food, offering economic, social and environmental benefits to the region.
The study has investigated the feasibility of supplying significant quantities of sustainable food to Manchester Fayre and the wider public sector with the aims of:
- Reducing the CO2 emissions of our city’s food.
- Nurturing behavioural change in favour of low-carbon food choices.
- Offering a replicable and financially sustainable solution.
- Identifying solutions which offer greater economic security for both farmers and Manchester Fayre.
The report can be downloaded below and we have had requests from a number of local and central government bodies for a copy, so we hope our finds will not only influence Manchester City Council, but also other public sector bodies across the UK.
Finally, we could end this latest news without thanking Manchester City Council's Carbon Innovation Fund, Manchester Fayre and Food Futures for financially supporting this research as well as the ongoing pilot project at Brookburn Primary School.
Special thanks must also go to Beth Creedon of Dig Food and Jenny Hall of Climate Friendly Foods for their advice and research, as well as to Manchester Fayre staff: Margaret Ball, Brian Ross, Jo Sclater and Gill Ewbank; Food Futures staff: Christine Raiswell and Abby Falla.
The pilot and this report would not of been possible without the support Unicorn Grocery and local organic growers: Glebelands City Growers, Dunham Massey, Moss Brook Growers and Tom Rigby. And of course Brookburn Primary School, in particular its chef: Phil Panton. We are also indebted to the experts across the country who gave us their precious time and advice.