Drawing on nine pilots across the UK, the report shows that connecting organic, sustainably grown produce from small and medium-sized farms with low-income households can generate £8.78 in social value for every £1 of public investment, matched with £1.10 from shoppers.
The returns include £3.11 in better health, £3.94 in stronger communities, £1.44 in local economic growth and 29p in climate and nature benefits. The programme achieved this by closing the price gap on locally grown organic produce and creating steady demand through shops, school meals and voucher schemes.
The report calls for three urgent steps to fix and grow the UK’s fruit, veg and pulse sector:
- Boost British production: Expand home-grown supply through coordinated horticulture strategies and targeted support for small and organic farmers.
- Repair the ‘missing middle’: Invest in the local food infrastructure needed to get produce from field to market and strengthen supply-chain rules to ensure fair prices.
- Improve access for everyone: Use the state’s £5bn school and hospital food budget to create guaranteed markets for organic and local produce, and scale schemes that help low-income households afford healthy food.
Hannah Gibbs, programme manager at Sustain, is calling on the Government to investigate scaling up these successful pilots so millions more people in the UK could benefit from healthy and sustainable food.
She commented: “Our broken food system is damaging nature and the environment and failing to provide people with the nutritious food that they need to lead healthy lives.
“Government must listen to these inspiring solutions and scale them up, by investing in the growth of climate-friendly horticulture, supporting the local small businesses who supply good food and securing a market for nature-friendly produce through public sector food."
In Liverpool and Knowsley, areas often described as ‘food deserts’, a partnership with the mobile greengrocer Queen of Greens now gives 700 people a week access to organic produce they previously couldn’t afford.
Liverpool MP Ian Byrne said: “It’s been great to see this pilot come together in my constituency. Just because people live in cities doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have access to fresh fruit and veg from local farms.
“Good food for all is a right, and it’s interventions like these that can really make the difference to the health and wellbeing of people on low incomes, as well boosting a sense of local community and connection.”
Download the full Sustain report below