Today, citizens are meeting politicians in parliament for the launch of a Citizen Manifesto to Fix Food. The event marks the culmination of nearly two years of conversations with citizens across the country to find out what people really want from food.

Led by the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, The Food Conversation is the largest ever public dialogue about food in the UK. Through in-depth deliberations in 12 parts of the country and over 75 community conversations, citizens explored a wide range of policy interventions proposed by the National Food Strategy, Obesity Health Alliance, Food Foundation, Which? and others.

The Manifesto is the result – offering new insight into the shared priorities of citizens across all four UK nations, from all demographics and backgrounds, about what they want from the food system. It is a plea for joined up thinking and collaboration to address food inequalities, food poverty and food waste, creating a better system for all. It covers a wide range of areas from school children eating well, to families being able to afford nutritious food, to farmers being fairly supported.

This Citizen Manifesto to Fix Food comes at a timely moment for this mission-led government. Last year, a report by Prof Tim Jackson for FFCC revealed that unhealthy food is costing the UK economy a staggering £268bn. Last week, FFCC published a follow up report, Paying the Price which revealed that the  UK’s long-term food security is at risk from a dysfunctional food economy that’s failing the public and farmers.

Sue Pritchard says:

“As evidence mounts of the urgency to change the way food works in the UK, the Citizen Manifesto to Fix Food reveals where citizens see the opportunities for change. With the new Food Strategy for England and a 25-year farming roadmap underway, this is a useful contribution from citizens who care deeply about transforming food as a way of building a fairer society.”

Alongside the Manifesto, a new report from The Food Conversation partner Hopkins van Mil sets out in more detail findings and analysis from each deliberation location. And next month, the final report from The Food Conversation will provide insight into the process and methodology behind the deliberations.