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New report positions North Yorkshire as national model for fixing broken food systems

New report positions North Yorkshire as national model for fixing broken food systems

Posted on 12 December 2025

North Yorkshire is the “engine room” of the UK food sector and offers a template for the rest of the country to follow - ensuring every resident has access to affordable, healthy food while protecting the planet.

Image credit: North Yorkshire Council

This bold new vision has been laid out in a new framework launched in a collaboration between University-of-York-led FixOurFood programme and North Yorkshire Council.

The report, titled Food for the Future: A Framework for Action, is produced by partners across the food system and outlines how local authorities, academic researchers, business, community groups and civic leaders can work together to tackle rising health inequalities, economic uncertainty and climate change through a unified food strategy.

Powerhouse

North Yorkshire is already a powerhouse of the British food industry; the county is home to the highest concentration of food and drink businesses in the UK, contributing £3 billion to the regional economy. However, the report highlights that despite this abundance, significant challenges remain. Currently, 61% of adults in the region are overweight or obese, and 14% of households nationally face food insecurity.

The new Framework moves beyond traditional policy by treating food as a connected system - linking agriculture, health, education and the economy.

Place-based approach

Professor Bob Doherty, Academic Director of FixOurFood from the School for Business and Society at the University of York, said: “This framework for action clearly aligns with the objectives of the FixOurFood Research programme at the University of York. It will facilitate building a regenerative food system that creates positive outcomes in terms of environment and human health.

“This place-based approach will provide a template for other UK regions who believe in transformative food system change and it is fantastic to see North Yorkshire showing UK leadership.”

Driving change

The report emphasises that transforming the food system is a team effort involving farmers, businesses, schools, councils and community groups. It identifies several priority areas to drive change, including:

Securing affordable nutritious food: Connecting local community food providers and implementing ‘local sourcing’ procurement policies.
Producing food with nature: Investing in farmer-led knowledge transfer regarding regenerative agriculture to improve soil health and biodiversity.
Creating an ‘eat well’ culture: Rolling out a “whole school approach” to food and embedding nutritional education for pupils.
Facilitating circular economies: Reducing food waste and supporting business clusters to move away from linear “take, make, waste” practices.

A Fulfilling life

Councillor Michael Harrison, Executive Member for Health and Adult Services at North Yorkshire Council, said: “Our local health and wellbeing strategy wants residents of North Yorkshire to have a fair chance of living a fulfilling life, free from preventable ill health, ‘adding years to life and life to years’.

“This Food for the Future framework recognises the importance that food plays in achieving this aim, and is a key building block in trying to reduce health inequalities. I would encourage everyone to look at the framework and see what part they can play to achieve the vision.”

Innovation

Building on Local Success The report not only outlines future goals but champions the innovation already happening across the county. This includes the FEAST holiday programme, which provides free meals and activities to eligible children, and North Yorkshire Rotters, a volunteer group dedicated to reducing food waste through community education.

By addressing the root causes of food insecurity and supporting the region’s farmers in adopting environmentally friendly practices, the partners aim to build a food system that is resilient to future challenges and works for everyone.