Birmingham food system strategy 2022 to 2030

The Birmingham Food System Strategy is the city’s ambitious eight-year approach to creating a bold, sustainable, healthy and thriving food system.

This strategy is the outcome of three years of collaboration with partners and citizens. Our aim has been to create a whole system strategy that demonstrates what we need to enable radical change locally and shape a food system for all.

A whole system approach means we are considering all the different elements involved with food, including food sourcing, farming, logistics, education and skills, how we buy food, cost of and availability of food, food businesses and the economy, food waste and much more. It also means considering the role of different people, organisations and businesses involved in each part of the system, and the impact that the food system has on them.

A co-produced strategy

The Birmingham Food System Strategy captures the key drivers behind the Birmingham Food Revolution. The strategy is owned by the city and is driven by every citizen, organisation, and business in Birmingham collectively levering change, innovation, and development to create a future food system that every citizen is proud to be part of.

Partners who have contributed include:

• Citizens and community groups
• Creating a Healthy City Food Forum with stakeholders from across the city
• Food Justice Network
• Third sector organisations
• Schools and nurseries
• Public sector services
• Training providers
• Universities and colleges
• Food producers and distributors
• Caterers
• Food businesses
• Business Improvement Districts
• Dietitians

What the Birmingham Food System Strategy is and isn’t

The purpose of the Birmingham Food System Strategy is to lay out the strategic approach required to regenerate our food system.

What this strategy is

• A document that provides strategic direction that will guide the development of the Food System Strategy Action Plan which will be a living document.
• Developed by citywide partners from a variety of backgrounds across the food system.

What this strategy isn’t

• An action plan. This document does not define what actions will be taken over the next eight years, only guides them. This will be the role of the Food System Strategy Action plan, which will expand each of the work streams.
• Something that can be delivered by one organisation alone. It is essential that this strategy is delivered in partnership by stakeholders across the food system, as meaningful change can’t be achieved by any one organisation alone.

Get involved

If you would like to be involved in the future direction of the Birmingham Food System Strategy, join the Birmingham Food Revolution.

Download the Birmingham Food System Strategy

Page last updated: 29 August 2023