London sustainability needs producers

Manufacturing will be a key feature of a draft sustainable food strategy for London to be unveiled by early next month, according to London Food Link, which will run a public consultation.

"We consider it essential that we get the views and involvement of food manufacturing," said Ben Reynolds of Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming, which co-ordinates the Link.

Although Sustain declined to reveal specific details, manufacturing will be promoted as an important aspect of the proposed London Development Agency strategy, which will try to ensure more sustainable production and delivery. Issues are likely to include the development of infrastructure for more production and trading in and around London and more local purchasing by the public sector.

"It's going to have action, it's going to have targets, it's going to have people identified," said Reynolds. The strategy is intended to pull together existing initiatives and systems and much of the money needed was already available, he said. A final version could be agreed as early as January.

Meanwhile, Sustain is also due to submit a final draft proposal for a sustainable food centre in London to store, process and distribute food from around the capital.

The centre could adopt electronic ordering and promote organic products, said project officer Dan Keech, and include space for the development of processing, packaging and marketing.

The final draft is being prepared by Professor John Whitelegg of Eco-Logica, following widespread consultation. Keech said that a go-head for the two-year project, probably funded by local and central government, could be given this winter.