Every City a Food Growing City? What Food Growing Schools London Reveals about City Strategies for Food System Sustainability

Abstract

Cities have emerged as leaders in food system innovation and transformation, but their potential can be limited by the absence of supportive governance arrangements. This study examined the value of Food Growing Schools London (FGSL) as a programme seeking city-wide change through focusing on one dimension of the food system. Mixed methods case study research sought to identify high-level success factors and challenges. Findings demonstrate FGSL’s success in promoting food growing by connecting and amplifying formerly isolated activities. Schools valued the programme’s expertise and networking opportunities, whilst strategic engagement facilitated new partnerships linking food growing to other policy priorities. Challenges included food growing’s marginality amongst priorities that direct school and borough activity. Progress depended on support from individual local actors so varied across the city. London-wide progress was limited by the absence of policy levers at the city level. Experience from FGSL highlights how city food strategies remain constrained by national policy contexts, but suggests they may gain traction through focusing on well-delineated, straightforward activities that hold public appeal. Sustainability outcomes might then be extended through a staged approach using this as a platform from which to address other food issues.

London’s food policy: Leveraging the policy sub-system, programme and plan

“…An example is limitations to improving school food without recourse to the national level, reiterating earlier recognition of constraints (Morgan & Sonnino 2010), and research on food growing in London's schools, where levers were deemed to be held by national level body OFSTED (Pitt et al 2018). In comparison, more robust powers to intervene in school food exist in New York, where the Mayor 'used his direct power to develop mandatory nutritional standards for meals served in schools and other city institutions' (Freudenberg & Atkinson 2015).…”

“…Addressing this disconnect will allow policy developments at local level to filter up to national policy. Though tensions between pressure to delivery local action on the ground and the resources required to push for policy changes will need to be addressed (Pitt et al 2018).…”

Organic Foods in Diets of Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease

“…While conducting the search, it was considered worth analyzing the list of publications which, with the use of appropriate search criteria, can be regarded as the closest to the individual issues searched for. These concern the links between the food supply system, health promotion and sustainability [24]; sustainable systems and strategies for ensuring food in cities [25]; methodological approach to the relationships between sustainable food production system and eating a Mediterranean diet [26]; analysis of a healthy and balanced school child nutrition program based on fruit and vegetables [27]; links between lifestyles and health and the balanced and healthy eating choices of seniors [28]; sustainable nutrition education as a pathway to healthy eating [29].…”

Governing at Scale: Successful Local Food Initiatives in the World’s Cities

“…Through a systematic literature review, the study finds that the scale and location of farming sites influence the success of urban agriculture. In addition, Pitt et al [21] highlight the value that Food Growing Schools London (FGSL) plays in community development through the increased collaboration, networking, and sharing of information within and between schools and other local institutions in the city. While both of these papers illustrate how programs can be limited by factors beyond their control, such as government policy and structural dynamics in the global food system, they also illustrate how innovation at the micro-scale can be scaled-up when connections are made across sites of activity.…”