The full Food Issues Census 2024-25 report can be downloaded HERE, with a two-page summary of insights available HERE. The raw data (anonymised and unformatted) is available to explore HERE.
All are also available to download via the buttons at the foot of the page.
We will soon be adding a slide deck with further data and insights. A huge thank you to all those organisations that took time to participate in the Food Issues Census process. For a list of those that responded to the survey, click here.
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.
The 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.
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.
With Food Issues Census 2024-25, we set out to:
Whether you are a funder, a potential funder, a civil society organisation or just someone interested in food systems, please make use of this resource, which is by you and for you.
To join the webinar we are holding on 4th June 2025 where we will share the results in more detail, please click here.
We are holding an event in Belfast on Thursday 22nd May 2025, where we will explore food, farming and funding in N Ireland, including insights from the Census. For more details and to register for our Belfast event, please click here. We plan to share results at other events and online in due course. Note – this is aimed primarily at those working in civil society organisations and funders & potential funders in Northern Ireland.
The Food Ethics Council is committed to bringing in the experiences of a genuinely diverse range of organisations as part of this project.
We know that diverse communities, from Black and People of Colour (BPOC) to working class communities, LGBTQIA+ folks, neurodivergent people and people with disabilities are vastly under-represented in the food, farming and environment sectors. Yet, we also know that there is incredible work being done by diverse groups on the ground, which is often overlooked and under-resourced within the sector.
Our goal is to broaden engagement in the Food Issues Census by actively including, welcoming, and amplifying voices that have been previously excluded.
To address these barriers, we established the Food Issues Census Inclusion Fund. The fund aims to provide financial and language support to frontline or grassroots organisations, individuals who are non-native English speakers and anyone who may otherwise not be able to engage in the process. Click here to find out more.
“What I find really helpful about the Food Issues Census is the way it gives us a complete picture of what’s going on across the whole movement… a sense of what people think is important, what they’re working on, and what they’re struggling with… together we can design a much better future.” – Kath Dalmeny, Chief Executive of Sustain
Photos captured by Will Hearle.