Good Food Oxfordshire is delighted to announce that Oxfordshire has won the prestigious Sustainable Food Places Silver Award.
This recognition acknowledges the outstanding efforts of all those we are honoured to work with by promoting healthy, sustainable, and local food, while addressing critical social challenges such as food poverty, diet-related health issues, and the decline of family farms and independent food retailers.
The Sustainable Food Places (SFP) Award is a national, evidence-based acknowledgment and celebration of communities adopting a holistic approach to sustainable and healthy food. In order to win, awardees such as Oxfordshire must demonstrate impactful initiatives across the entire food system, fostering a local ‘Good Food Movement’ through collaboration with local food partnerships and stakeholders.
SFP outlined three standout achievements from Oxfordshire’s Silver Award application, which were:
1. Procurement, Dignity, and Food Access: Strong initiatives addressing procurement practices, dignified food access, and comprehensive mapping of food production and waste.
2. Strategic Integration: The seamless integration of the food strategy and partnership work into local priorities and strategies, showcasing visionary leadership.
3. District Food Action Working Groups: Oxfordshire’s excellent example of transitioning from city to county scale, promoting representation, and encouraging participation through District Food Action Working Groups.
Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “The cost-of-living crisis has highlighted the importance of a resilient, local food system to help improve access to good, healthy and affordable food. We are really proud to be leading the way nationally in our work, being one of the first local authorities to implement a food strategy, and so I am very pleased that Oxfordshire has been recognised for all the brilliant work so far.”
Leon Ballin, Sustainable Food Places Programme Manager, commended Oxfordshire’s creative and committed approach to making healthy and sustainable food a defining characteristic of the region. He highlighted Oxfordshire’s role in setting a high benchmark for other members of the UK SFP Network to follow.
Fiona Steel, Manager of Good Food Oxfordshire, stated: ‘Since winning the SFP Bronze Award for Oxfordshire in 2021, the collective effort of all involved has resulted in substantial positive change, paving the way for a more sustainable, healthy, and equitable food system for the entire county. Through the collated efforts of local organisations, policy makers and community groups, we have persevered in creating a better Oxfordshire: ensuring that communities have access to the food they need to thrive, all while minimising the impact on the environment.’
As we celebrate this remarkable achievement, we acknowledge that there is still work to be done, but Oxfordshire has paved the way for positive change. The SFP Silver Award demonstrates the region’s commitment to building a vibrant, prosperous, and diverse sustainable food economy while addressing the climate and nature emergency.
We look forward to being a part of the continued transformation of Oxfordshire’s food system for the better in the months and years ahead while setting our sights on gold!
If you are interested in reading Good Food Oxfordshire’s application, you can find it here. Additionally, if you would like to join the Good Food Oxfordshire Network, sign up here.
