The document summarizes the development of a proposed Birmingham Food Charter. It outlines the aims to improve residents' health, strengthen the economy, and enhance environmental sustainability through the food system. It discusses why a charter is needed due to issues like obesity and an imbalanced diet. The charter's vision and priorities are presented, such as teaching children about healthy eating and tackling barriers to access. Finally, it proposes a Birmingham Food Council to provide leadership and coordinate delivering on the charter's priorities.

1. The Development of a
Birmingham Food Charter
Presentation 17th
September 2013
Roger Harmer
Garden Organic

2. 1. Aims of a Birmingham Food Charter
2. Why do we need one?
3. How it was developed
4. The Vision
5. Priorities
6. The Birmingham Food Council
7. Looking Forward
8. Questions
Issues to Cover

3. Aims of a
Birmingham Food Charter
1.To improve the health of Birmingham’s
residents
2.To strengthen Birmingham’s economy
3.To improve Birmingham’s
environmental sustainability

4. Why do we need a Food Charter? (1)
1. Our relationship with food is dysfunctional (national data)
• Our diet should be 33% fruit and veg. Its 24%
• High fat / sugary foods should be 8% of our diet. They are 22%
• Starchy foods should be 33% of our diet. They are 19%
• Five a day consumption has fallen since 2008
2. The impact on obesity has been dramatic & matters
• National obesity in boys was 1.8% in 1974. In Birmingham now,
1 in 4 Year 6 children are obese and its rising year on year.
• Obesity Reduces lifespan by 3-10 years and reduces quality of
life

5. Why do we need a Food Charter? (2)
3. The Food Industry is a key employer in the City
• Significant employment opportunities if we can become a
national centre of excellence for the production of sustainable
food – this would build on our existing food industry heritage
4. Food Waste is a Human & Environmental Disaster
• 15% of edible food and drink wasted in the UK.
• 32% of bread wasted. 400,000mt edible potatoes wasted
• Avoidable Food Waste causes 17mt CO2e pa - equivalent to one
third of the impact of household electricity use

6. Why do we need a Food Charter?
These are
global issues

7. How was the Draft Food Charter
Developed?
• Part of an International movement especially in North America
and Northern Europe. Early cities to develop charters include
Toronto, New York, Seattle & Malmo. The movement has
recently spread to the UK. Bristol, Plymouth & Cardiff have all
recently agreed charters
• In February 2013 Birmingham Public Health commissioned
Garden Organic to develop a draft Food Charter for
Birmingham
• We met a wide range of public, voluntary and private
organisations as well as several interested individuals during
the spring and summer of 2013
• Amended at meeting of stakeholders: July 2013

8. The Vision of the Draft Food Charter
Our vision is of Birmingham as a City:
1. Whose citizens have a healthy diet, which helps them
to live long, happy lives
2. Which maximises the contribution of food to the
City’s economy
3. Which minimises the impact of the food it eats on the
local and global environment

9. The Draft Birmingham Food Charter’s
Priorities (1)
1. Teach our school children where food comes from,
how to grow & cook food and what a healthy diet is.
2. Ensure every adult Brummie can cook a healthy meal
that is quick to prepare, low cost and tasty
3. Tackle the barriers to healthy eating faced by those
on low incomes

10. The Draft Birmingham Food Charter’s
Priorities (2)
4. Halt the rise of childhood obesity and then reverse it
5. Radically reduce the level of food waste from
wholesalers, retailers and consumers
6. Encourage greater participation in individual and
community food growing projects

11. The Draft Birmingham Food Charter’s
Priorities (3)
7. Ensure public institutions and businesses serve
healthy food to their staff and customers
8. Promote entrepreneurial engagement in the local
food industry
9. Improve the local evidence base

12. The Birmingham Food Council
A Senior Steering Group of key partners with support from a public
health professional
To provide leadership and co-ordination for the delivery of the
priorities in the Birmingham Food Charter
Publish an Annual Report on progress towards delivery of the Food
Charter’s priorities
Network with other similar groups across the UK

13. Looking Forward
Opportunities & Threats:
– Reorganisation of Public Health
– Sustainable Food Cities Network
– Rising Media Interest
– Launch of the School Food Plan
– Growth of Food Banks
– Formal Launch of the Birmingham Food Charter

14. Roger Harmer
rharmer@gardenorganic.org.uk
024 7621 7705
Thank You!
Any Questions?