University of Southampton and Southampton City Council Collaborate to Map City’s Food System
Scientists from the University of Southampton have teamed up with Southampton City Council to map the city’s food system.
Their project has looked at the impact that the current food system is having on public health and the environment.
They have highlighted city areas most in need of better access to healthy food options, and have produced a series of recommendations for improvement.
The project is supporting recommendations to ‘improve our knowledge and understanding of the food environment in the city’ and ‘develop the evidence base’ made following Southampton’s ‘Tackling Childhood Obesity in Southampton’ inquiry .
Rates of childhood obesity are higher than the England national average in Southampton, with 40.5 per cent of children aged 10 and 11 overweight or obese, compared to 36.6 per cent across England in 2022/23.
Dr Jenny Baverstock , Principal Enterprise Fellow in Biological Sciences and project lead at the university, said: “In addition to high rates of childhood obesity in Southampton, the evidence we gathered found that 41 per cent of residents responding to the city’s cost of living survey had experienced food insecurity. We have looked at the challenges holistically, analysing data and working with stakeholders such as community groups and food distribution organisations. This has enabled us to understand where and why there are challenges to accessing healthy food, and to make recommendations on improving the food system.”
They found that more than one in four homes in Southampton are more than a 16-minute walk from a healthy food outlet, where fresh fruit and vegetables and healthy options such as brown rice and bread are available. These homes were principally in areas of high deprivation.
“Getting fresh fruit and vegetables can be quite difficult, especially in areas of the city where access to healthy affordable food isn’t easy,” said Dr Baverstock.
Recommendations
The research team will be discussing its findings and recommendations with the city council’s Health and Wellbeing Board in September. The recommendations include:
More powerful procurement processes : To raise the standards expected of suppliers to provide better, healthier produce across the city.
Upskill and enable people : To ensure the city’s population is enabled to make healthier food choices by providing better options.
Build on existing projects and partnerships : Bring together existing food waste and food insecurity organisations, such as food banks and the food distribution charity the Big Difference. Encourage more people to get involved in them and work together.
A food partnership is currently forming in Southampton, bringing together those involved in the local food system with a shared aspiration to improve it. Both the University of Southampton and Southampton City Council are active participants in this partnership.
Dr Baverstock said: “It’s important to tackle the issues of healthy eating and sustainability at a local level, especially as there is an increased trend for obesity in Southampton. There are lessons to be learnt for other cities too for example Bristol, a city the team visited to hear about their food system transformation. The issues we have in Southampton are pertinent to other UK cities.”
Councillor Marie Finn, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, Southampton City Council, said: “This exciting project will help us to develop a healthier, more sustainable food system for the future. Their work aligns with our council aspiration to reduce both high levels of childhood obesity and the food insecurity experienced by many. I look forward to the discussion around this at the Health and Wellbeing Board.”