In this third iteration of the Food Issues Census, we shine a spotlight on the critical work being done by organisations and communities tackling the UK’s most urgent food and farming challenges By gathering these powerful insights, we paint a vivid picture of the sector, amplifying the voices of those driving real
transformation and providing essential data to inform the decisions that will shape its future.
This report aims to make information about the sector accessible and actionable for everyone involved in, or interested in, food and farming work. It highlights shared priorities, and points to practical solutions to sustain and amplify our collective efforts.
This Census builds off the back of previous censuses that we coordinated in 2017 and 2011. It illuminates the work that diverse civil society organisations are doing on food and farming in the UK – helping organisations to understand their roles within the wider ecosystem and identify opportunities for greater collective impact. We cast light upon the specific needs, resources and experiences across the four UK nations, and provide fertile ground for connections and collaborations where these don’t yet exist. Crucially, the census also provides a trusted reference point for funders, policymakers and other social change decision-makers to understand gaps and niches in knowledge and capacity, and to target funding strategies and outreach accordingly. Food Issues Census 2024-25 set out to:
- re-map the landscape of civil society organisations working on food & farming
- illuminate who is working on what
- understand civil society needs and capacity to meet food system challenges
- ask what is needed from funders
- support a more dynamic, coherent and impactful sector
Whether you are a funder, a potential funder, a civil society organisation or just someone interested in food systems, please read the report .This resource is by you and for you. Please use it.
The report is available to download – it is best viewed as a double page spread. If that is difficult to view on some devices, the report is also available to download as single pages (note that some visuals cut across two pages). A two-page summary is also available to download.