In 2021, the City Council of Birmingham, England launched the Global Food Justice Pledge (GFJP). Birmingham is a member of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) Global Forum – an international agreement on urban food policies signed by over 200 cities from all over the world.
The aim of the pledge is to collaborate and put political weight into the voices of cities. It emphasizes the need for policies – at all levels of government – which create and support an affordable, nutritious, and sustainable food system for all residents. In support of these aims, the City Council has worked with the Food Foundation to create several resources to support fellow members of the GFJP improve food justice in their local areas.
These resources include:
- A GFJP intervention database – which includes examples of strategies, policies, and interventions that have been implemented worldwide to address issues of food injustice and can be used as examples of best practice for local policy makers who may want to implement interventions;
- The food justice pledge self-assessment tool – designed to assist local policymakers in understanding their current efforts in addressing food insecurity and identifying potential areas for action; and
- A platform to share case studies – submission of case studies of interventions designed to improve food injustice by member cities to share best practices.
These resources are designed around five key themes of food justice: governance; social and economic equity; food production; food supply and distribution; and food waste and recycling.
“Food can both support healthier lives and cause health problems. It is how we celebrate and reflect our heritage and culture and is a fundamental part of daily life. “ stated Dr. Justin Varney, Birmingham’s Director of Public Health. “Being unable to feed those we love and care for is hugely damaging and food insecurity is a growing public health issue. This is especially in cities who lack growing space as housing density increases and often support some of the most vulnerable and economically precarious populations. This pledge and the tools and resources that support it will allow us to work together as cities to address food justice and tackle food insecurity in our urban settings.”