A rapid evidence assessment on the social and political impacts of food partnerships in the UK.

Food partnerships are collaborative governance arrangements, with robust social networks both locally and nationally. There are 114 partnerships united by the backbone organisation, Sustainable Food Places (Local Government Association, 2024). Their work is institutionally binding through working with local authorities on local food strategies and action plans (Sustainable Food Places, 2024). Consensus building (Coulson and Sonnino, 2019) and limited direct participation of underrepresented food system stakeholders (Sandover; 2020; Bonnevera, 2024) may compromise their potential to provide enhanced democracy. To ensure a just transformation of the food system, local authorities must enhance capacity and facilitate good governance.

This document was produced as an assignment for the FPM001 Food and Public Policy module undertaken at the Centre for Food Policy, City St Georges, University of London. The document has been written to address a marking criteria and learning outcomes.