This makes Barking and Dagenham the fifth London borough to embrace the Commitment, which sets ambitious targets to ensure that food procured and served through council-controlled services is climate-friendly, minimises waste, and supports local and sustainable food producers and growers
In a step towards enhancing food sustainability and accessibility, Barking and Dagenham Council has launched its ‘Good Food Action Plan’ (the Plan) aimed at improving access to healthy, sustainable food for its residents. The launch event, held at Growing Communities Dagenham Farm, brought together the borough’s Food Partnership, a collaborative effort that includes schools, businesses, faith organisations, food banks, and social enterprises. This collective approach underscores the council’s commitment to addressing food-related challenges through a multi-stakeholder framework.
A notable highlight of the launch was the council’s signing of the London Food Purchasing Commitment (the Commitment), alongside its school catering partner, BD Together. This makes Barking and Dagenham the fifth London borough to embrace the Commitment, which sets ambitious targets to ensure that food procured and served through council-controlled services is climate-friendly, minimises waste, and supports local and sustainable food producers and growers.
Given that a significant portion of the council’s food purchases is for school meals, the collaboration with BD Together is pivotal. BD Together currently provides meals for 37 schools, preparing approximately 2.9 million meals annually and spending an estimated £3.6 million on food each year. This partnership builds on BD Together’s existing achievements, including their silver Food for Life award, a nationally recognised framework for catering and food education, and the council’s innovative food education programme.
The Good Food Plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to coordinate further food action across five key priorities. These include improving access to healthy and culturally appropriate food, enhancing young people’s access to inspiring food education, increasing the supply of sustainable food, developing Barking and Dagenham’s local food economy, and raising awareness of the role and value of good food. The Plan aims to create a coordinated local food action that will significantly enhance the food offer in the borough, leading to improved health outcomes, support for the local economy, and reduced financial pressures on residents.
The development of the Plan follows extensive community-led research involving over 500 people, as well as the creation of a community cookbook celebrating the borough’s diverse population. This grassroots approach ensures that the Plan is grounded in the needs and aspirations of the local community, making it more likely to achieve its ambitious goals.
Dominic Twomey, Leader of Barking and Dagenham Council, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “This borough has always been committed to doing what it can to support achieving net-zero, and by signing up to this commitment, we’ve taken another important step to hitting that target. The Commitment is a win-win: less food waste going to landfill, and a better food offer for our schools and young people.”
Darren Tranter, CEO of BD Group, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We are thrilled to be working with the council on the London Food Purchasing Commitment. The commitment will help us improve our school food service, so that every meal we provide is not only nutritious and delicious but also sustainable and environmentally friendly.”
Asma Khan, CEO of Marks Gate Relief Project and a member of the Food Partnership Advisory Group, highlighted the importance of the Plan in addressing the challenges faced by residents in accessing healthy food. She said, “We’re delighted to have contributed to Barking & Dagenham’s Food Partnership and Good Food Plan. Residents across the borough struggle to access healthy food, and there are multiple reasons for this. The Plan seeks to give people the tools and resources they need to be resilient, by bringing people together to cook and eat together, and build their confidence in using seasonal ingredients. We’re looking forward to being part of coordinated action to improve food for everyone.”
As Barking and Dagenham Council embarks on this transformative journey with the Good Food Action Plan, the borough is poised to become a model for sustainable and equitable food systems. Through the combined efforts of the council, BD Together, and the broader Food Partnership, the residents of Barking and Dagenham can look forward to a future where good food is accessible to all, contributing to healthier lives and a more vibrant local economy.
