2019 Annual Report
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Annual Report Review and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2019 Company registered number: 02673194 Charity registered number: 1018643 This has been another cities we work with are rising to achieving impressive change, as extraordinary year for Sustain. respond to. Meanwhile, concern our infographics on page three The profound implications of about the impacts of unhealthy illustrate. Yet it is also sobering Brexit for farming, fishing, food and unsustainable diets that such initiatives are still standards and international continues to grow. needed. Healthy and sustainable trade have become ever more food is much better understood real; our response as a robust The issues that we care about and appreciated than 20 years alliance ever more needed. so deeply, and which we and ago, but it is still not the norm. In spring 2018, the Sustain our members have worked on Making it become the norm is the alliance co-hosted with Defra a for so many years, are now great task ahead of us. We look consultation event on future farm centre stage. Public debates forward to working with you to policy, with Secretary of State are positively fizzing about how achieve it. Michael Gove MP as a keynote radically to reduce food waste; speaker. In the autumn, National eat much less – and better – Food Strategy lead Henry meat and dairy; shift at scale to Dimbleby joined us for a vibrant agro-ecological farming; secure discussion at Sustain’s AGM. everyone’s right to healthy, Throughout the year, our policy affordable and sustainably team has worked with great produced food. dedication to consult with, brief Professor Mike Rayner and meet with alliance members, It is 20 years since the Sustain Chair of Sustain’s Council sister alliances, MPs, Peers, alliance was created to address of Trustees parliamentary researchers and growing challenges with our the media, to help shape thinking food system. Our main birthday on some of the biggest policy celebrations will be held this changes that our sector has year and we have not been short experienced in decades. of parties over the past year, with the 10-year anniversaries There is so much at stake. Just in 2018 for three of our flagship this spring, Extinction Rebellion campaigns - Capital Growth, protestors brought many streets the Real Bread Campaign and to a standstill. Young school Sustainable Fish Cities. It is strike instigator Greta Thunberg testament to the power of our brought her compelling message alliance and campaign creativity of climate and nature emergency that these initiatives – and others to the world’s leaders, with a such as the Children’s Food call to action that Sustain, our Campaign and Food Poverty members and the towns and campaign are going strong – Trustees: Professor David Barling (re-elected 23/11/17) Clare Oxborrow (stood down in 2018) Josie Cohen (elected 12/12/2018, role share with Keith Professor Mike Rayner (Chair, re-elected 12/12/2018) Tyrell) Shaun Spiers (Deputy Chair, re-elected 12/12/2018) Catherine Fookes (elected 17/01/17) Christopher Stopes (elected 23/11/17) Bridget Henderson (re-elected 12/12/2018) Alison Swan Parente (re-elected 12/12/2018) Clare Horrell (elected 23/11/17) Keith Tyrell (Treasurer, re-elected 12/01/16, role share Katharine Jenner (re-elected 17/01/17) with Josie Cohen) Laura Mackenzie (elected 23/11/17) Victoria Williams (re-elected 23/11/17) Modi Mwatsama (elected 23/11/17) Stephanie Wood (re-elected 17/01/17) Company registered number: 02673194 Charity registered number: 1018643 Registered office: The Green House, 244-254 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA Auditors: Goldwins, 75 Maygrove Road, West Hampstead, London NW6 2EG Bankers: The Co-operative Bank, PO Box 101, 1 Balloon Street, Manchester M60 4EP and Triodos Bank, Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS Our year in numbers Our projects, partnerships and policy work contributed to the following over the last year: countries now Government local___ 20 represented in 1 commitment 37 alliances Real Bread to measure developing Campaign household food poverty membership food insecurity action plans 667 57 organisations join students run Sustainable 00 food co-ops Food Cities 8 1 20 out of 33 950 London million c. 14,000 boroughs responses promoting meals to Defra farm policy uptake of served by consultation stimulated Healthy Start caterers committing by Sustain vouchers to sustainable fish th cities and 90 events across 3,000 21local are as London garden joins Capital run Veg Cities promote Urban Growth community campaigns Food Fortnight food growing network 1 National major food brands Planning 45.2 million 6 forced to remove Policy or reduce tonnes of EU meat Framework production under junk food for England recognises marketing new antibiotics food’s role in creating stewardship law healthy communities 4 Support better farming “What trade deals with and food production other countries could mean for UK producers and consumers” We want to see food produced in a way that is fair and 15 October 2018 sustainable. Fair for farmers, fishers workers, animals and which sustains the land, biodiversity and natural resources for now and generations to come. In spring 2018, Sustain and Defra co-hosted a consultation on farm policy, with Defra Secretary of State Michael Gove giving a keynote speech Briefing We publish Why would anyone want to pick our crops? Securing decent pay and conditions Sustain co-hosts We directly report on for agriculture workers in England Two key Sustain Sustain Defra consultation facilitate 500 farm workers: asks (fairer quota Brexit forum event on farm responses to ‘Why would allocation and better ‘Delivering the policy, with Defra Health & Harmony anyone want data) included Goods’ attracts Secretary of State farm policy to pick our in Labour’s new 80+ people to Michael Gove consultation crops?’ Environment Policy discuss strategy April May June July August September Sustain issues Sustain reveals Fruit and Vegetable Sustain present Draft Agriculture MP briefings on British fishers Alliance launches at Conservative Bill published post-Brexit farming, missing out on to boost British and Labour Party containing key fishing, trade in food £62m due to poor production by 25bn conferences Sustain alliance and food standards sustainability status portions demands This year saw the Sustain alliance performance on fair dealing. participating in an exceptionally high • Becoming a member of the new level of activity on sustainable farming Environmental Land Management “Thousands respond and fishing, and agri-food standards in Scheme (ELMS) Trials and Tests to Defra’s Health and international trade. Brexit necessitates Advisory Group run by Defra. Harmony consultation” changes to a raft of policy, legislation, • Supporting intensive alliance activities 9 May 2018 institutions and public funding decisions on agro-ecology, horticulture, farm that will set the foundations for the UK’s diversity, public health, antibiotics post-Brexit response to climate change, stewardship, sustainable fisheries and biodiversity, food and farming standards, more. farm livelihoods, antibiotics stewardship, • Briefing Government ministers, senior sustainable fisheries, animal welfare, Defra and shadow food, farming and public health and more. Our small team fishing policy teams. of specialist campaigners focusing on • Gathering cross-party support for key key policy areas have stepped up to the amendments to the Agriculture Bill and challenge with great dedication. This Fisheries Bill. year, we convened and communicated • Working with the Climate Net Zero regularly with over 5,000 people across initiative to integrate land and food third-sector, government and some greenhouse gas emissions. business networks; more via social media; • Running or contributing to nine packed and another 2,200 people attended our sessions at the Oxford Real Farming events or engaged in our policy activities. Conference, with c.500 participants. Highlights include Sustain’s lead role in: • Keeping up a steady stream of briefings, reports, blogs, media stories • Co-hosting a packed farm policy and e-actions. consultation event with Defra Secretary of State Michael Gove. Sustain chief executive Kath Dalmeny • Directly facilitating 500 responses continued to serve as a Commissioner to Defra’s Healthy & Harmony farm on the Food, Farming and Countryside consultation (indirectly, Sustain Commission (due to report summer 2019) stimulated one third of the 42,000 hosted and coordinated by the RSA, responses). and our Sustainable Farming campaign • Contributing to the shift towards future coordinator Vicki Hird provided expert farm payments rewarding environmental support. outcomes. • Winning a Fair Dealing Obligation in the Sustain continues to serve on the Alliance Agriculture Bill, with powers to make to Save Our Antibiotics steering group, farm supply chains fairer, and publishing focusing this year on solutions to overuse Super Market Failure assessing retailer of antibiotics in farming. BIG WIN! We respond to We publish European Government We run or contribute findings on Parliament vote consultation on to nine packed Food Research supermarket to ban ‘just Fisheries White sessions at the Collaboration and low wages, pay in case’ farm Paper, with Oxford Real Farming Sustain publish ‘Fish, disparities and antibiotic use smaller fishers Conference Fishing and Brexit’ unfair trade October November December January February March Our evidence was Sustain publishes Intensive work with We respond with dismay mentioned by the Shadow our alliance’s MPs and Peers to US Ambassador’s call to EFRA minister, Sue concerns about a on key Agriculture accept US food standards; Hayman, in her speech at ‘no deal’ Brexit and Fisheries Bill iNews tweets Sustain story Parliamentary debate amendments to 100k followers Photo: Delegates vote for ‘whole system farming’ at the Oxford Real Farming Conference, January 2018 5 6 Increase sustainable food supply We want to see food supply from ‘growing to throwing’ allowing farmers here and overseas to thrive; manufacturers, suppliers, and caterers making healthy and sustainable options the easiest choice for people and ensuring no food is wasted or used inefficiently.