Liverpool’s food organisations, community groups, businesses and residents have come together for the launch of the next phase of the city’s Good Food Plan.
The second Liverpool Good Food Summit, held at The Florrie on Thursday 3 September, celebrated the work already taking place across the city and explored how partners can work together to ensure everyone can access affordable, nutritious and sustainable food.
Hosted by Feeding Liverpool – Liverpool’s Food Alliance – the event brought together people with professional expertise and lived experience to share ideas, identify challenges and agree practical actions.
Since 2021, organisations across the city have worked collaboratively to deliver Liverpool’s Good Food Plan. The plan recognises that good food is essential to people’s health and wellbeing, while also supporting stronger communities, reducing inequalities and creating a fairer local food system.
Liverpool achieved Sustainable Food Places bronze award in 2023 and are looking to build on this success by achieving the silver award. The summit marked the launch of the next phase of the plan and focused on turning the city’s shared ambition into action.
Discussions explored:
- How communities can become stronger and more resilient during times of global uncertainty
- Opportunities to increase food growing across the Liverpool City Region
- How young people can help shape healthier local food environments
- Ways to support Liverpool businesses to offer and promote good food
Participants also mapped the work already happening across Liverpool, identified areas where further action is needed and considered how organisations and communities can collaborate more effectively.
Councillor Harry Doyle, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, said:
“Everyone in Liverpool should be able to access good-quality, affordable food, wherever they live and whatever their circumstances.
“There is already a huge amount of inspiring work taking place in our neighbourhoods, from community food projects and growing initiatives to businesses making healthier and more sustainable choices.
“This summit was an important opportunity to bring those voices together, celebrate what is working and agree how we can build on it. By working alongside residents and local organisations, we can create a food system that supports healthier people, stronger communities and a fairer Liverpool.”
Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, said:
“Access to good food has a major influence on our health throughout our lives, but we know that not everyone has the same opportunities to eat well.
“The food available in our neighbourhoods, the money people have, the pressures on family budgets and access to shops, growing spaces and community support all shape the choices people can make.
“The next phase of the Good Food Plan gives us an opportunity to address these wider challenges collectively. Crucially, it will be shaped by residents’ experiences and by the people already delivering positive change across Liverpool.”
The ideas and priorities developed during the summit will help inform the next stage of the Good Food Plan and support Liverpool’s long-term ambition to become a Good Food City.
