Bridging the Gap policy review

Executive summary

The Bridging the Gap programme explores ways for people on low incomes to access climate and nature-friendly food. In this report, we review a range of policies and interventions that could form part of a raft of measures introduced in the UK to allow us to achieve this goal. These stretch across six core areas, including:

• Adopting a horticulture strategy that includes specific support for organic growing.
• Supporting cooperative forms of farming, or collaboration through farm clusters, to reinforce small organic producers and enable stronger routes to market.
• Introducing a minimum wage specific to agriculture workers.
• Setting targets for organic food in public sector procurement, reinforced by supportive funding and legislation.
• Supporting inherently local retail including mobile vending and farmers markets, as well as a wider growth plan to engage larger retailers in increasing access to organic food for lower income groups.
• Recognising the public health benefits of cash transfer schemes (such as vouchers), with increased value for organic and sustainable produce.
• Investing in food hubs thereby supporting the supply of organic produce from smaller producers, via the introduction of infrastructure grants.

Contents

• Executive summary  
• Introduction  
• Horticulture and organic farming  
• Fair wages in farming  
• Public sector procurement   
• Local retail   
• Vouchers and fruit and veg on prescription  
• Food hubs and wholesale    
• Next steps