Local authorities and Metro Mayors are key for connecting national policy with local delivery that addresses the specific needs of the UK’s varied regions and communities. If they are to deliver the National Food Strategy in a cohesive way, the government must provide the resources and guidance they need to implement it in their local contexts.
This should include:
- Strategically allocated funding, with a targeted approach that takes the unique needs of each region into account. Funding should allow authorities to support infrastructure development – such as food processing facilities and distribution networks – and to offer grants for ‘first of a kind’ projects on food waste, food security and healthy eating.
For example, local and regional governments can help tackle food waste and food poverty by partnering with local charities to redistribute surplus food in their communities. For example, in London the Felix Project is working with local government to redistribute an extra 6.9 million extra meals to families with children during the school holidays. - Knowledge sharing via an online portal that offers local authorities and Metro Mayors access to the latest research and best practice. This should be backed up with training opportunities to help build the skills needed to successfully deliver initiatives.
- A collaborative network to enable local authorities across regions and across the country to work together on shared challenges and projects. This should also support informal partnerships across the sector, including with charities, community groups, and the farming and food industry.
- Customised local food strategies, with local authorities encouraged to develop an approach that best fits their area. This must go hand in hand with community engagement, with local residents involved in setting priorities, and developing and implementing strategies to ensure they are effective and sustainable for the long term.
- Monitoring, evaluation and learning, with a framework set up to track progress against the National Food Strategy’s public health, environmental and economic goals. Feedback should be targeted, supporting the sector to continue learning and improving.
To support this work, the Government should set up a cross-sector national steering group with representatives from central and local government, as well as public health bodies, charities, the food industry, and academia. This group should be tasked with helping oversee, facilitate, and co-ordinate progress.

What would it cost?
Based on previous successful projects with local governments, £23 million per year in funding would have a significant positive impact through local authorities in communities up and down the country.
The cross-sector national steering group would require no additional funding.