This event focused on two topics: Rights based approaches to food inequality; and the challenges and opportunities of charitable food supply chains. 

1) Rights based approaches to Food inequality

The Covid-19 pandemic and current cost of living crisis has highlighted entrenched inequalities in food and nutrition security. It has exposed socio-economic barriers to healthy and sustainable food for those most vulnerable. Charitable food aid has primarily been the means to address these inequalities. However, it does not follow from this that the right to adequate food is realised. 

We heard from practitioners working to promote more equitable, rights based approaches at local, regional and national levels. Presenters included:

Wendy Eades - Law for Life

Patrick Mulvany - Food Ethics Council

Irina Martin (Nourish Scotland)

Lopa Saxena - Coventry University

2) The challenges and opportunities of charitable food supply chains

This session focused on the important work within charitable food supply chains that provide a lifeline of accessible food provision to community organisations. The findings from a study that explored this sector's need for greater resilience will be presented. This considers key learnings from the pandemic and the ongoing impact of the cost of living crisis. This sector also looks to provide a space for stakeholders to debate important questions such as what structural and societal changes need to take place, and wider concerns such as how to access appropriate knowledge and skills, and how organisations can learn from each other.

Presenters included:

Jordon Lazell and Debashree De, Essex Business School, University of Essex

Presentations from the event can be found below: