Championing transformation of the Yorkshire food system for healthy people, thriving businesses and a flourishing planet.
We have established the FixOurFood Commission to provide a cohesive voice for Yorkshire food system transformation supporting healthy people, thriving businesses and a flourishing planet. It will work alongside stakeholders to action change in food policy, remodel supply chains and public food procurement, improve dietary health, particularly in young people, and support innovation in regenerative practices.
There are excellent initiatives and programmes going on across Yorkshire and we hope to help bring them together and support them in driving forward.
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The FixOurFood Commission is part of the FixOurFood research programme, based at the University of York.
For further information, please contact Sophie Stewart at: fixourfood@york.ac.uk
The FixOurFood Commission website is live: www.fixourfoodcommission.org
By integrating scientific research with practical experience, we bridge the gap between theory and action in the food sector
The Commission Chairs
David A Kerfoot, Chair
Jan Thornton, Vice ChairThe Commission possesses extensive knowledge of the UK food industry, from primary production to retail and consumption.
We bring together expertise in culinary arts, supply chain logistics, sustainable agriculture, and public health nutrition to address the complex challenges facing the food system
The Commissioners
Vincent Walsh, Circular and Regenerative Infrastructures
Paul Davison, Children & Families Living Well Service
Fiona Black, The Halifax Academy
Steve Crow, Clarion Solicitors
Jonathan Williams, FareShare Yorkshire
Hannah Fraser, Fraser Farms
Kamran Mahroof, University of Bradford
Nigel Murray, Booths
Allison Kane, Deliciously YorkshireThe synergy between our culinary, agricultural, and supply chain expertise allows us to offer unique insights and solutions to the food industry as well as a holistic understanding of the food landscape.
Our proposed and ongoing projects
The commission is made up for three task and finish groups focusing on:
Environmentally Beneficial Agriculture
Increase the spatial extent and depth of environmentally beneficial farming in Yorkshire.
Sharing best practice
Working with existing farmer groups to share best practice and ways to support farmers is improving their soil and applying for relevant financial support to transition to environmentally beneficial farming practices
Demonstration farms
Demonstration sites will be used as an educational tool for knowledge exchange through effective engagement
Nutritious food for young people
Contribute to practices and activities that embed
positive change towards healthy nutritious food for young people.
Auto-enrolment for free school meals
Continued support to facilitate auto-enrolment for free school meals across the country
Stimulate a whole school approach to embed
positive change.
For example: advising school caterers on meal swaps for affordable, locally procured, nutritious meals; the co-design of culturally, socially and
environmentally relevant education tools to build skills and knowledge in sustainable diets.
Local food procurement
Identify and support mechanisms which enable locally sourced, sustainably produced foods to enter the public food procurement market.
Surplus food distribution
FixOurFood researcher, Declan Jackson, will be exploring how we might maximise the nutrition of foodaid provisions from surplus food with FareShare Yorkshire. Via workshops with foodaid initiatives, the project will explore the key challenges associated with providing adequate nutrition to foodaid users and unique successes in their provision to deliver a ‘pathways to transformation’ that might help foodaid initiatives across Yorkshire overcome core constraints and maximise their distribution of nutrition.
Dynamic procurement platform
Explore the possibility of developing a dynamic procurement platform for Yorkshire
Academic Advisors
Bob Doherty
Ioan FazeyOur research and expertise inform policy and practice, contributing to a more resilient and secure food future
Affiliate Organisations
If you would like to become an affiliate of the FixOurFood Commission please email: fixourfood@york.ac.uk
Commission Project Managers
Sophie Stewart, FixOurFood
Belinda Morris, FixOurFoodWe are committed to fostering a more sustainable, equitable, and healthy food system for all.
We believe that food has the power to connect communities and improve well-being.
We work collaboratively with stakeholders across the food system to drive positive change.
The Role of a Commissioner
Our commissioners will:
- Contribute to the transformation of the Yorkshire food system alongside other like-minded professionals – improving human and planetary health, supporting purpose driven food businesses and networks.
- Champion an area of action which has been identified as essential for regional food system transformation.
- Attend an induction into the work of the Commission.
- Attend quarterly meetings online or in person as appropriate.
We have selected commissioners who have demonstrated skills and expertise in the following areas:
- Supply chain innovation
- Farm innovation for regenerative approaches
- Purpose driven businesses, particularly in food manufacture and processing
- School food
- Public procurement
- Dietary and public health, including obesity
This role is voluntary.
The Role of an Affiliate
Our affiliate organisations (or individuals) will
- Promote the FixOurFood Commission’s work and activity to their own wider network
- Share information and good practice/case studies with the Commission
- Provide specialist knowledge: written/verbal/virtual or at a FixOurFood Commission meeting if invited to attend as a guest
- Join task and finish groups to support a particular area of work for a specific period of time
- Attend/support/promote FixOurFood Commission events
- Consent to the FixOurFood Commission using your/your organisation’s name in promotional material, documentation and social media where appropriate
By aiming for as many Affiliates as we possibly can, this will enable:
- Wide reach across diverse sectors
- Increase profile and credibility
- Provide lots of information/help map activity across the region
- Enable the Commission to facilitate greater connectivity amongst communities/activists
- The greater the number of supporters, the more likely the Commission will be able to influence decision makers
This is not a strategic role and attendance at regular meetings will not be required.