Sheffield skyline at dusk in winter

Overview 

FixOurFood "aims to understand and build pathways towards more regenerative food systems in the Yorkshire and Humber region" (FixOurFood 2023) with one work package considering innovative forms of food policy and governance. In this collaboration, ShefFood and FixOurFood co-developed an action research project to create a local food action plan. The aim was to learn by doing, to deliver an ambitious local food policy and to "critically reflect on the process of developing a local food action plan in order to share lessons with other food partnerships around the country." (Treuherz, Yap, and Rowson 2023)

People involved

A researcher from FixOurFood, ShefFood’s partnership coordinators and representatives from almost 100 organisations across Sheffield (including growers, farmers, caterers, residents, businesses, universities, community groups, food pantries, food banks, social eating spaces, and Sheffield City council).
People working at a food initiative

Key project activities

This collaborative project involving ShefFood, FixOurFood and the local community in the co-creation of a seven-year local food action plan for Sheffield is an example of 'bottom-up' policymaking (FixOurFood 2023).

Too often, food policy comes from a top-down approach. That is one of the reasons that changes have taken so long to be implemented in the past. We believe that involving the community from day one is what will make a real difference.

(Treuherz and Middleton, 2023)
Public workshops 
Twelve public workshops were held over four months organised by five different working groups covering key themes (Food, Health, and Obesity; Food Ladders; Good Food Economy and Procurement; the Good Food Movement; and Growing and Composting). Working group facilitators developed the workshop format and content with ShefFood and FixOurFood. Workshop discussions focused on identifying: 
  • key successes across the Sheffield’s diverse range of food initiatives and networks
  • actions to support local food system change
  • opportunities for collaboration.
Data analysis and synthesis
ShefFood and FixOurFood synthesised and mapped data collected at the workshops, identifying emerging themes and opportunities for collaboration. ShefFood noted the value of academic support and expertise in this process. Following this analysis, 73 specific planned and future commitments to action were identified for the local food action plan. 

Co-production principles

Reflection and reflexivity 

ShefFood and FixOurFood held a debrief session following each workshop, reflecting on processes, and noting power dynamics in discussions. Group members were also engaged in structured reflections to consider improvements for future workshops. 
ShefFood and FixOurFood are co-authoring a publication to share reflections and learning from the process of developing a local food action plan.  

Relationships 

The process of co-developing the local action plan was considered an opportunity to leverage and build on existing networks in the Sheffield area: 
"We felt like we were solving problems and building relationships just by calling these meetings, sending out invitations." (Researcher, FixOurFood) 

Inclusivity 

Times and locations for workshop meetings were selected to maximise participation. ShefFood received financial support to fund workshops, including food and travel expenses for participants:  
"A very modest amount of resource was able to make a big difference actually just being able to pay for people's travel, to put some food on and to pay for a venue suddenly made a lot more conversations possible." (Researcher, FixOurFood) 
 

Related references

FixOurFood (2023). 'Creating a more sustainable food system for the city of Sheffield', Accessed 7th December 2023. https://www.city.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2023/08/creating-more-sustainable-food-system-city-sheffield
Treuherz, S., and Middleton, L. (2023). 'By 2030, Sheffield's food landscape will look entirely different', Accessed 8 September 2023. https://nowthenmagazine.com/articles/by-2030-sheffields-food-landscape-will-look-entirely-different-sheffood-local-food-action-plan
Treuherz, S., Yap, C., and Rowson, S. (2023). 'Building a local food action plan for Sheffield', ShefFood; FixOurFood, Accessed 7 December 2023. https://fixourfood.org/building-a-local-food-action-plan-for-sheffield/