Demand that the council make sustainable food choices itself
Food system sustainability is not our individual problem. The council needs to stop distracting everyone with this kind of consultation about personal habits and get its own house in order. In my experience food in schools, council buildings and hospitals is cheap, industrial, chemically produced, out of season and served in single use plastic. The best thing you can do for a sustainable food system is demand political action. I recommend www.writetothem.com to make it easy.
Why the contribution is important
In our society we are encouraged to think of environmental problems as products of our personal choices rather than examining the unsustainable system we live in. Edinburgh council, the Scottish Government and NHS Lothian have far more influence over the sustainability of Edinburgh's food system than any individual changes we can make. Simple changes in the procurement and disposal requirements for schools, hospitals, government and council buildings could usher in an era of plastic-free, organic, locally grown food if we chose. Supporting local food businesses and regulating industry wages and practices are political choices that these institutions need to lead on. It is very difficult to make sustainable food choices in a city which is bought into the industrial food system.
by KatieSmith on August 14, 2020 at 03:22PM
Posted by johannacarrie August 16, 2020 at 12:32
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Posted by Cherry August 17, 2020 at 12:46
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Posted by Voiceofreason August 17, 2020 at 20:22
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Posted by Natartist September 14, 2020 at 16:39
The council supplied food distributed throughout the lockdown in my local area was low quality, cheap industrially produced food, in plastic packaging. The quality of nutrition in a white bread processed cheese sandwhich was minimal .
Imagine what good could have come from whole food, locally sourced and produced food stuffs during thei expectionally difficult time. Now that we have a lull between the next possible lockdown, or other trigger for mass food disrtibution, it is a perfect time to reconsider procurement and build capacity.
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