Food conversation in Leicestershire helping shape the Future of Food
People across Leicestershire are being invited to take part in The Food Conversation, a national initiative exploring what citizens across the UK want from their food system.
Join one of two local events to discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding food, from affordability and access to healthy food, to sustainability, local food production and reducing food waste. The conversations will help inform what a healthier, fairer and more sustainable food future could look like for Leicestershire.
These events are being delivered in partnership with Incredible Edible Loughborough, Charnwood Forest Geopark and the Circular Agriculture Hub, bringing together local organisations committed to improving food and environmental outcomes across the county.
Upcoming events
Place: Whitwick Park Hall, Whitwick, LE67 5HB
Date: Wednesday 9 September 2026
Time: 6pm to 9:15pm
Place: Fearon Hall, Loughborough, LE11 1PL
Date: Thursday 17 September 2026
Time: 6:45pm to 9:15pm
Booking: To reserve your spot on 9 or 17 September, please visit: The Food Conversation event
Whether you're passionate about healthy eating, tackling food insecurity, supporting local producers, reducing food waste, or creating a more sustainable food system, we'd love to hear your views.
Together, we can help create a healthier, fairer and more sustainable food future for Leicestershire.
For more information about The Food Conversation or other opportunities to get involved locally, please email goodfood@leics.gov.uk
Grassroots Food Plan for Leicestershire
The Grassroots Food Plan is part of Leicestershire’s bid to become a Gold Sustainable Food Place – recognising the many amazing people, projects and communities working hard to ensure a Good Food future for everyone in Leicestershire.
This work is being carried out by Circular Agriculture Hub with guidance from Leicestershire County Council. The research underpinning this work has ethical approval from the University of Nottingham.
Learn more about the Grassroots Food Plan research project:
Get involved
We’d love to hear your ideas as we create a Grassroots Food Plan with and for Leicestershire’s communities. The plan aims to make sure our food system reflects real needs and experiences across our county.
We aim to:
- gather views from a wide range of people, so the plan is shaped by lived experience
- reach individuals and groups who may not usually take part in food projects or local decision making
We are especially keen to hear from:
- young people (over 16) and elderly people
- primary producers and food growers
- small and medium-sized food businesses
- community and justice organisations
You can get involved by:
- completing the Leicestershire Grassroots Food Plan form
- emailing hello@circularagriculturehub.co.uk for an in-person or online chat
Leicestershire Local Food Cluster: Growing a Fair and Resilient Food System
Farmers sit at the foundation of the food system but are rarely included in discussions surrounding food policies. Find out about our new farmer-led initiative.
Food scheme serving up a taste of the future sets sights on gold
After securing silver in 2023, we're setting our sights on the highest ‘gold’ accolade in the Sustainable Food Places Awards. Find out about our bid for the Gold Award
Council serves up county food plan
A new scheme to encourage healthy and sustainable living across Leicestershire has been launched by the county council.
The Good Food Charter has been made public and the authority is asking businesses and organisations to pledge their support.
The Charter is part of a wider plan which sees Leicestershire join only 55 other places across the UK and Ireland to be accepted as a member of Sustainable Food Places – a national movement towards more sustainable food systems. Leicestershire is the first full County member of Sustainable Food Places taking a unique approach which also supports local food action in partnership with Melton Borough Council and Harborough District Council.
Those that sign up to the Charter will support the council and partners to:
- promote healthy and sustainable food
- alleviate food poverty and diet-related ill health and improve access to affordable healthy food
- build community skills and knowledge across all aspects of food – including cooking, growing and healthy choices
- enhance the local food economy
- provide access to more sustainable catering and food procurement
- reduce food waste and the ecological footprint of food
Good Food Leicestershire marks the start of a long-term strategy to make Leicestershire a healthy and sustainable county.
The Charter recognises the strong role that food plays across the community and sets out our vision to tackle growing health issues, reduce the impact of poverty, cut food waste and address environmental impacts.
Person:Spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council