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The Oxfordshire Food Strategy

Building a healthy, fair and sustainable food system across Oxfordshire

Tackling the issues of food insecurity, access to healthy, affordable food and the impact of these on health was brought into sharp focus by the pandemic. Whilst local community food networks across the district rose to the challenge, it became clear there was a need for all key organisations and stakeholders in Oxfordshire to work together on this to build a healthy, fair and sustainable food system for everyone.

The Oxfordshire Food Strategy

Along with the other Oxfordshire councils and partners, we recently adopted the Oxfordshire Food Strategy

The strategy has been developed with partners and stakeholders including the Oxfordshire city and district councils, representatives from Oxfordshire community sector groups, local food producers and other major institutions, brought together by Good Food Oxfordshire. To address the challenges of food poverty, food supply, climate change and public health tipping points we need a partnership to maximise the benefits.

Creating an action plan

We hosted a meeting for food and farming businesses, community groups, town and parish councils in June to hear more about the South and Vale Food Action Working Group. This group is being set up to work with stakeholders and partners to shape the new district action plans.

South and Vale Food Action Working Group

The working group will develop the action plan for the districts which will collaboratively feed into the Good Food Oxfordshire steering group.

Next steps and getting involved

There are three ways you can get involved:

  • Join the mailing list
  • Join a wider circle of consultees, so as the draft action plan takes shape your voice and experiences are heard
  • Join the Food Action Working Group as a food system representative

Joining the Food Action Working Group

The purpose of the Food Action Working Group (FAWG) is to oversee the development of a multi-stakeholder food action plan for South Oxfordshire and the Vale of the White Horse.

We would like the FAWG representatives to be stakeholders within the food system. For example, local councils, farmers and producers, food businesses, community groups such as community growers, community food network, community groups, institutions with a role in procuring food, health professionals, academics, or policy specialists.

Being a FAWG member could include:

  • Attend four to five meetings and two wider stakeholder events over the course of 2023 (or send a deputy)
  • Have some capacity to take actions between meetings
  • Use any specific knowledge or experience to help the group reach sound decisions and reach out to your contacts and representative group
  • Help to engender action through your ability to influence activity within your own organisations
  • Showing a real commitment to developing a successful and measurable shared action plan

If you want to stay connected with this work by being part of the wider circle of consultees or join the mailing list or Food Action Working Group, please email communityconnectors@southandvale.gov.uk