Assessing Sustainable Practices in Public Procurement of Food

Concepts

• research services
• defra
• food chain directorate's food science programme
• public procurement of food
• sustainable practices
• defra's agri-food chain directorate
• public sector food procurement
• sustainable food system
• defra's agri-food chain vision
• sustainable model of food production

Location

Description

The requirements for a new research project: FO0523 Evidence assessment to evaluate interventions in public sector food procurement and catering which support the transition towards a sustainable food system, providing healthy diets within planetary boundaries. Proposals are invited from organisations and/or consortia that can demonstrate a clear appreciation of the policy objectives, a sound methodological approach that adequately manages the risks involved in the project and relevant experience and breadth of expertise. This project will be funded by Defra's Agri-Food Chain Directorate's Food Science Programme. Defra's Agri-Food Chain vision is for the UK to lead the world in food and farming with a sustainable model of food production, which includes supporting UK businesses to run profitable, low-carbon enterprises, producing high quality food whilst boosting biodiversity and delivering a diverse range of public goods including tackling climate change. The different approaches by which food is produced, distributed and consumed have different degrees of environmental and socioeconomic impacts. For instance, different consumer trends affect the environment by driving which foods are produced, how they are produced, which in turn influences food-related energy-use and waste generation. There is a consensus amongst the scientific community that achieving a healthy and sustainable food system will entail a combination of food production and consumption changes . Furthermore, the Climate Change Committee points out that public procurement can lead the way in promoting sustainable production and consumption, for example, by introducing reporting and monitoring standards and normalising plant-based options . Defra wants to understand how to encourage the public sector (e.g. schools, hospitals, prisons, Government Departments) to source healthy, sustainable and locally produced food.

CPV Codes

• 73110000 - Research services

Indicators

• Contract is suitable for SMEs.
• Contract is suitable for VCOs.

Other Information

Please note that Defra procurement uses an E-tendering system for Procurement activities. This is currently provided by Bravo Solutions. To access appropriate tendering and contractual documents, please access the E-Tendering portal at https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk, ensuring that your registration includes "Defra". If you have any problems with this system, please contact Bravo on their telephone helpline number 0800 368 4850 or by emailing them at help@bravosolution.co.uk. Link to eSourcing Portal https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk