Features / Sustainability
Help Bristol go for gold and get a national food award
Bristol is aiming to be the first city to achieve the Sustainable Food Cities Gold Award. Organisations and individuals are being asked to support the initiative to ensure Bristol receives Gold accreditation by the end of 2020.
Bristol City Council, Bristol Green Capital Partnership and Bristol Food Network have come together to launch the ‘Going for Gold’ bid, after being for of the first three cities to receive the Silver Award for food sustainability in 2016.
Sustainable Food Cities Network is a national organisation that celebrates a sustainable, community-driven approach to food. To receive the Gold Award accreditation, Bristol will have to improve in six ‘food action’ areas: buying better, food waste, urban growing, community action, eating better and food equality.
is needed now More than ever
Bristol made steps towards improving the city’s food system to receive the Silver Award and must show continued success and growth in the six food action areas to receive the Gold Award.
Individuals and organisations throughout the city need to support a better food system; Bristol will only achieve the Gold Award if everyone comes together to improve food sustainability.
Taking action to improve in the six food action areas will bring a range benefits to people’s health, the environment, workplaces and communities.
Deputy mayor councillor Asher Craig, chair of the Going for Gold steering group, said: “The Going for Gold bid is certainly challenging, but our city’s culture of supporting local food enterprises and nurturing innovation makes me confident that Bristol can achieve its aspiration of becoming a Gold Sustainable Food City.
“Our international reputation as a city with a vibrant and independent food scene is a strong foundation for individuals and organisations to build on and lead the way in making healthy, sustainable and ethical food available for all.”
Deputy mayor councillor Asher Craig is also the cabinet member for communities
An improved food system comes with numerous benefits – from fertile soil and flourishing wildlife to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and thriving communities.
At a time when 40 per cent of food produced in the UK goes to waste and the global food system is under mounting pressure, Bristol is recognised as a city with an active and innovative approach to sustainable food. The Sustainable Food Cities Gold Award would set this in stone for the country to see.
To find out how to take action, visit www.goingforgoldbristol.co.uk
Main image courtesy of Jess Connett
Read more: Community Fridge tackles food waste and healthy eating
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
