Local markets key to improving children's health, say Lib Dems

Local markets and shops serving fresh food are the key to improving the health of more than half of children living in inner London boroughs like Islington who live below the government's poverty line say Islington's Liberal Democrats.

A new report commissioned by the London Development Agency shows that 80 per cent of food eaten in London is produced outside the capital despite 12,000 hectares or 8 per cent of Greater London being farmland. It also reported that half a million tonnes of food ended up in landfill sites as waste each year.

The LDA has set up a new body called London Food to look at many of the issues raised in the report and to devise a more co-ordinated food and farming strategy for the capital. London Food will be made up of leading figures from food businesses, farming, community sectors and government. It will look at ways of reducing the environmental impact of food manufacturing in London, raising the level of skills of workers in the food industry and improving Londoners' diets."We now need to ensure that the whole of London's food sector becomes more sustainable, that more fresh food is available, and that currently niche products such as locally grown food become mainstream and affordable and accessible to more Londoners. There is a clear need for more co-ordinated action to ensure more Londoners benefit from fresher foods which will promote good health and benefit individual producers." "There are too many 'shopping deserts' in London, especially in the deprived parts of the capital. I hope that London Food is able to create the right environment so that small retailers can flourish and supply fresh produce to more Londoners, especially on low incomes."Background info

A new report published today (Thursday 17 June) shows the importance of food to London's economy whilst highlighting the serious problems facing the sector in the capital.

The report, called Capital Eats, found that Londoners spend nearly £11 billion on food each year. However, it also highlighted the lack of access to nutritious food for people on low-incomes. It showed that 53 per cent of inner London children and 33 per cent of outer London children live below the poverty line whilst 13 wards in East London boroughs have been identified as "food deserts" where there is no local provision of affordable fresh food.

Furthermore the report found that 80 per cent of food eaten in London is produced outside the capital despite 12,000 hectares or 8 per cent of Greater London being farmland. It also reported that half a million tones of food ended up in landfill sites as waste each year.

The report, which was jointly produced by the London Development Agency and London Food Link, found that 31,000 people work in food manufacturing - making it the second biggest manufacturing sector in the capital. Furthermore it showed that there are around 60,000 food retailers in London, around 25 per cent of all London businesses.

The LDA has set up a new body called London Food to look at many of the issues raised in the report and to devise a more co-ordinated food and farming strategy for the capital. London Food will be made up of leading figures from food businesses, farming, community sectors and government. It will look at ways of reducing the environmental impact of food manufacturing in London, raising the level of skills of workers in the food industry and improving Londoners' diets.

Honor Chapman, Chair of the London Development Agency, said: "This report clearly shows that the food sector is hugely important to the capital's economy and it is therefore vital to encourage its development. Food issues affect many of the LDA's activities such as promoting health, raising productivity, encouraging innovation and creating new jobs for some of the most disadvantaged groups in the capital. We have set up London Food to make the sector stronger and more sustainable, bringing benefits to food firms, workers and consumers across the capital."

Ben Reynolds, Project Officer of London Food Link, said: "The importance and cultural diversity of London food is undisputed. We now need to ensure that the whole of London's food sector becomes more sustainable, that more fresh food is available, and that currently niche products such as locally grown food become mainstream and affordable and accessible to more Londoners.

There is a clear need for more co-ordinated action to ensure more Londoners benefit from fresher foods which will promote good health and benefit individual producers. This report outlines policy issues for each sector and explores options for change."

David Smith, London Food member, Chairman of the Confederation of Independent Retailers said: "There are too many 'shopping deserts' in London, especially in the deprived parts of the capital. I hope that London Food is able to create the right environment so that small retailers can flourish and supply fresh produce to more Londoners, especially on low incomes."