The new Sustain article reports on new findings from its “Bridging the Gap” programme, which explores how public food procurement - particularly school meals -can be used to improve health, support farmers, and strengthen local economies. The central argument is that government spending on food, especially in schools, represents a powerful but underused tool for shaping the UK food system.
The report highlights that the UK currently spends around £5 billion a year on public sector food, making it one of the largest potential levers for economic and social change. By redirecting more of this spending towards locally produced, organic food - particularly fruit and vegetables - government could help build more resilient local supply chains and reduce reliance on imports, which are increasingly vulnerable to global shocks such as climate change and geopolitical instability.
Evidence from three pilot programmes in England, Scotland and Wales shows that this approach is not only feasible but highly effective. These pilots connected schools with local organic farmers and suppliers, enabling over 75,000 children, including many from low-income backgrounds, to access healthier meals. In Wales, local supply chains were rebuilt to link small growers with school contracts, while in Scotland and London, new partnerships introduced locally sourced ingredients and encouraged children to engage with seasonal food.
Crucially, the report finds strong economic returns. For every £1 of public investment in these schemes, around £9.46 of benefits were generated across health, local economies, and environmental outcomes. These benefits were driven by shorter supply chains, increased demand for local produce, and greater community engagement, including farm visits and food education.
The report concludes that these localised, organic procurement models could be scaled up nationally. It argues that doing so would support British farmers, improve children’s diets, and help meet government targets for sustainable food in public institutions. Overall, the findings present school food policy as a “win-win” opportunity to deliver economic, health, and environmental gains simultaneously.
Read the report here: More organic in schools can work for children and farmers, and help build UK resilience
