Sustainable diets: Addressing the problem through …...Sustainable Diets: Addressing the problem...
Transcript of Sustainable diets: Addressing the problem through …...Sustainable Diets: Addressing the problem...
Sustainable diets:
Addressing the
problem through civil
society
Sue Davies
Chief Policy Adviser
Sustainable Diets: Addressing the problem
through civil society
Which?’s approach
Consumer attitudes and priorities
Where are we now?
What needs to happen?
Which?’s approach: many aspects to
sustainability
The Which? Future of Food Debate September 2012
Four 2 day juries (12 to 14 people) in
Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow and London
Mixed by demographics (with some rural)
Witnesses/ evidence was presented on the
pressures facing the supply chain
Input from an Expert panel
Supplemented with a quantitative survey
Four key challenges presented in the
context of wider food issues:
Diet and health
Environmental issues
Food prices rises and volatility
Food security and future production
options.
Key themes to emerge
Price dominated people’s choices, but quality
and taste were also key.
People were generally aware of diet and health
issues but had little awareness of concerns
around food security and sustainability.
Once explained, many people became engaged
and wanted more information.
There was a call for greater government
leadership – strategy and co-ordination.
People thought there needed to be a shared
responsibility.
People thought there needed to be a mixed
approach to food production methods.
Greater transparency was called for around new
technologies.
Clearer information was wanted about how to
make more sustainable choices.
“A lot of the kind of information
people got [about environmental
impact of food], they felt they hadn’t
heard before, it was news to them. We
thought it should be more in the public
domain, that kind of information.”
(Glasgow)
“Yeah, for me my priorities have changed
because when I came, when I first started,
my priority was price and... well, actually
more quality than price...for me, the
environment has gone up and so has the
future of food production…. But price has
come down a few notches". (London)
Action wanted from Government
Take the lead and have a plan
Co-ordinate and invest in research for
new production methods, transparently
Provide checks on new technologies
and consult consumers on innovations
Initiative a comprehensive information
campaign and improve school
education
Sponsor community initiatives to “grow
your own”
Consider using price as a lever or a
fruit and vegetable voucher scheme
Provide information, support and
grants for farmers to learn new skills
Action wanted from retailers
Reduce waste
Have fewer offers on unhealthy/
unsustainable foods and focus them on
healthier and more sustainable products
Support local producers
Pay a fair price to producers and be
transparent about pricing
Play a role in informing consumers eg. in-
store information
Make imperfect foods available and
acceptable
Reduce the number and range of products
where it is unnecessary
Prove integrity and willingness to tackle
the problems
Sustainable food information
SIMPLICITY: Ensure labels communicate
clear, short messages.
IMPACT: Make sure labels are easily
noticeable and understandable as few
people have the motivation to seek them
out.
CONSISTENCY: Avoid too many schemes or
different positioning on the label.
COHERENCE: Explore the extent to which
issues can be combined.
EVIDENCED: Ensure the criteria that
underpin the scheme reflect the available
scientific evidence.
INDEPENDENT: Ensure schemes are
independent.
An online survey of 2100 adults aged 18+ in Great Britain
and Northern Ireland August 2012
Backdrop: Price dominating many decisions
50%
54%
56%
61%
63%
67%
85%
86%
87%
94%
95%
96%
46%
43%
42%
37%
35%
29%
12%
13%
10%
4%
4%
3%
Environmental impact of food
Fairtrade
Locally produuced
Buying food in season
Convenience
Animal Welfare
Food safety (the risk that food couldmake you ill)
Health/ nutritional content
Ingredients (what's in a product)
Price
Quality
Taste
Important
Not important
DK
Q19a. When shopping for food in the supermarket, how important or unimportant are each
of the following factors when choosing what products to buy? June 2013 Base: all
respondents exclu NI (2028). October 2012 All respondents exclu NI (2014)
Oct 2012
(2114)
Important
June 2013
(2081)
Important
Taste 96% 96%
Quality 95% 95%
Price 93% 94%
Ingredients 86% 87%
Health/
nutritional
content
83% 85%
Food Safety 86% 85%
Animal Welfare 68% 67%
Convenience* 69% 63%
Buying food in
season
63% 61%
Locally
produced*
60% 56%
Fairtrade 56% 54%
Environmental
impact of food
53% 50%
Backdrop: price dominating many decisions
Q19b. When shopping for food in the supermarket, which factors are the most important?
June 2013 Base: all respondents exclu NI (2028). October 2012 all respondents exclu NI
(2014)
3%
4%
4%
8%
11%
10%
22%
16%
20%
43%
64%
72%
3%
4%
5%
7%
10%
12%
17%
22%
28%
43%
59%
70%
Environmental impact of food
Fairtrade
Buying foods in season
Locally produced
Animal welfare
Convenience
Food safety*
Health/ nutritional content*
Ingredients*
Taste
Quality*
Price
Jun-13
Oct-12
* Signif diff
Where we are now?
A joined up approach and food strategy?
No EU Communication on Sustainable Food
No national food strategy and the Green Food Project was wound up
Specific initiatives - Agricultural Technologies Strategy, Responsibility Deal – but
no coherent approach
Clear guidance on sustainable diets?
Green Food Project principles have no formal status
No progress on labelling issues
Which? manifesto for the next Government
Involve consumers in developing a
national strategy for the future of our
food production, ensuring that
consumer views and interests are
central to decision making, including
where new technologies and
techniques may be introduced
Maintain strong, independent national
food standards agencies that are real
consumer champions
Which? Future of Food Debate 2
A partnership with the Government
Office of Science and Sciencewise
Will discuss the challenges facing the
food system, possible ways forward and
roles and responsibilities
3 two day workshops in London, Cardiff
and Paisley in January and February.