Research Type: Policy position

recommendations for UK policymakers

9th Mar 22 by Christina O'Sullivan

A policy brief outlining recommendations for UK policymakers based on the results of FLAVOUR, an innovative project funded by the EU’s Interreg 2 Seas Mers Zeeën 2014-2020 programme that aims to tackle food waste while supporting inclusive jobs in the social economy.

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A model for a sustainable food system

26th Jan 22 by Christina O'Sullivan

Our vision for the food system is of a circular food system, one which gobbles fewer resources to produce food, and loses far less food in the form of waste.

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Addressing methane emissions through demand-side measures in the food system

20th Aug 21 by Jessica Sinclair Taylor

Action to reduce methane emissions can avoid 0.3°C of warming by 2045, according to UNEP. While reduction in fossil fuel methane emissions is both vital and achievable, this briefing sets out the benefits to concurrently implementing global action plans to address the role of agriculture and food systems in generating methane emissions. This briefing sets out the case for the UK Presidency of COP26 to advocate for effective demand-side food system measures to achieve major methane reductions in the agriculture sector, bringing 1.5 degrees within reach.

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the potential of nutrient recycling to contribute to a reduced livestock sector, within planetary boundaries

20th Jul 21 by Christina O'Sullivan

We need to eat significantly less meat but is it necessary to cut out meat and animal products from our diets completely? Our paper describes the important role that livestock should play at recycling unavoidable food waste in the food system and defines what less and better meat really looks like. Our evidence based definition of ‘better meat’ is meat from animals that are reared only on food waste and by-products and do not graze or eat crops from land that could be used to grow human-edible crops. In fact, eating some meat, fed exclusively on leftovers, maximises the nutritional output of our land and uses less land than a vegan diet.All this can be done safely by treating the food waste in specialist treatment facilities.

Its important that money saved from feeding animals on leftovers does not lead to an increase in industrial livestock, or this will undo the climate benefits. The climate and land footprint of the UK’s pigs and chickens is predominantly abroad as the feed is imported. Our leftovers model creates a real opportunity to end the reliance on feed imports and their devastating effects on rainforests and the climate.

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Making Scottish Farmed Salmon Sustainable

12th Jan 21 by Christina O'Sullivan

Recommendations for policy-makers in Scotland to develop a sustainable aquaculture industry.

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Procuring the Food of the Future

12th Nov 20 by Jessica Sinclair Taylor

This report, a collaboration between the University of Leeds, Lancaster University, FoodFutures (North Lancashire’s Sustainable Food Network) and FoodWise Leeds (Leeds Food Partnership), with input from Lucy Antal of Feedback’s Regional Food Economies project in Liverpool, explores the role anchor institutions can play in creating a better food system – one that underpins local food economies and the health of the earth’s ecosystems. A change to shorter supply chains, a more plant-based health-focused diet, and support for local food production can create social value and improved economic consequences for the immediate locale.

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When there’s no waste, there’s a way (to net zero)

29th Oct 20 by Jessica Sinclair Taylor

Food is a climate issue: food waste is both a hidden barrier and an untapped opportunity to help reach net zero UK emissions, and addressing food waste is a ‘no regrets’ policy option. This policy brief argues that the potential of food waste reduction for climate change mitigation has not been realised, in part because of an overwhelming reliance on industry-led. We call for a strong regulatory approach, starting with incorporating food waste in the UK’s climate policy. There is and has always been public support for government regulatory action on food waste. Addressing food waste from farm to fork, including in households, as part of an ambitious food and agriculture-focused climate policy is an opportunity for the UK to lead an international agenda to mitigate the environmental impacts of our food system.

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a call for policy for sustainable diets

15th Aug 19 by Jessica Sinclair Taylor

This policy brief outlines what the research says about changing diets and explores consumption-focused measures that could help reduce animal-based products in diets. The recommendations in the brief focus on higher-income countries that consume more than their equitable share of global meat and dairy, and where the excessive intake of red and processed meat is thought to lead to adverse health outcomes.

The brief presents an overview of the environmental impacts of meat and dairy, and provides a brief review of the research on changing diets, before reviewing three high-impact, practical policy ideas which are ripe for implementation. The goal of this policy brief is to move the conversation beyond controversy over the idea of intervening to shape public diets, and towards practical policy discussions on how, given the extreme urgency, this can be done.

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Why food policy must deliver sustainable diets, shorter supply chains and prevent food waste

8th Aug 19 by Jessica Sinclair Taylor

The IPCC’s 2019 Special Report on Land Use and Climate Change found that the way food is produced is both a major driver of climate change and biodiversity loss, among other environmental challenges, and compromising our ability to grow food in the future. Our food system contributes up to a third of our global Greenhouse Gas emissions. But so much can be done to ensure we can all have access to good food, while making space for nature and reducing our risk of climate breakdown.

But what action to take, and where? In line with IPCC’s conclusions, this and subsequent policy brief by Feedback will  spotlight demand-side policy interventions that can deliver for people and the planet, across sustainable diets, shorter supply chains and preventing food waste.

In this policy brief we consider a central question: If policymakers were to take the potential of demand-side food system measures as seriously as is warranted by the IPCC’s findings, what should they do? And how?

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Net Zero requires bold government interventions to curb meat and dairy production, eliminate food waste and shorten supply chains, now

2nd May 19 by Jessica Sinclair Taylor

Reaching Net Zero emissions within an ambitious timeframe will require action on the food system. Many of these actions offer double and triple-wins. In particular: Shifting consumption towards sustainable, plant-based foods offers co-benefits in terms of improved public health. Reducing supply chain and household food waste offers opportunities to shrink the UK’s agricultural footprint and local environmental impacts such as nitrogen pollution, while sparing land for afforestation and rewilding. Meanwhile, nurturing the UK’s horticultural food production to shorten supply chains and encouraging public institutions to source food from their region offers opportunities to increase employment opportunities in the UK food sector, and cultivate regional prosperity and resilience. Read Feedback’s recommendations on harnessing the potential of demand-side measures to shift towards a sustainable food system.

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Regulating the role of Unfair Trading Practices in food waste generation

20th Mar 19 by Christina O'Sullivan

This policy brief outlines the relevance of Unfair Trading Practices to understanding addressing food waste in the supply chain and makes recommendations on mitigating Unfair Trading Practices for a fairer and less wasteful supply chain.

You can read the report by clicking here.

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