The event, which took place on November 6th at the Birmingham College of Food restaurant, aimed to address critical issues related to access to healthy and affordable food.
The 'Food Security & Resilience' Creative Dinner brought together influential figures in the food industry to discuss strategies for enhancing access to nutritious and affordable food for Birmingham's citizens.
The discussion encompassed local challenges within Birmingham's food system, identified gaps and opportunities for innovative solutions, and emphasised the importance of increasing resilience in the food system, including through the promotion of beans and pulses.
Distinguished speakers included Dr. Anne Coufopoulos, executive dean of the School of Health, Sport, and Food at University College Birmingham; Florence Cadge, co-ordinator of the Food Justice Network at The Active Wellbeing Society; John Millichap, corporate funding officer at The Active Wellbeing Society; and other experts from organisations such as the British Dietetic Association and the University of Liverpool.
Dr. Anne Coufopoulos stressed the significance of ensuring access to sufficient, affordable, nutritious, and safe food for all citizens, aligning with the objectives of the Birmingham Food System Strategy.
As part of the event, students from the Birmingham College of Food prepared a three-course meal using affordable and nutritious ingredients, showcasing the potential of such foods in addressing food security.
This Creative Dinner is the latest in a series that has explored various aspects of the food system, including food innovation, transformation, and behaviour change, as well as the impact of the cost of living crisis on the food system. The Public Health division recently launched the Birmingham Food System Strategy to revolutionise the city's food landscape.
Cllr Mariam Khan, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care at the council, emphasised the importance of access to nutritious and affordable food and commended the creative dinners for their contributions to vital food-related discussions.
The Cost of Living Week programme is part of Birmingham City Council's ongoing efforts to support residents and provide access to essential resources, including warm spaces, foodbanks, and financial assistance. This collaborative initiative seeks to make a lasting, positive impact on the well-being of the city's residents.
To learn more about these efforts, visit: www.birmingham.gov.uk/foodrevolution.