Rother Food Partnership brings together people, communities, and organisations to create healthy and sustainable local food systems that benefit the wellbeing of all.
Our vision and objectives
- Reducing food waste: Through education, advocacy, and collaboration with partners, we strive to minimise food waste at all stages of the supply chain, from production to consumption.
- Improving food access: We work to enhance access to nutritious and sustainable food, particularly for underserved communities, by promoting initiatives such as community gardens, farmers’ markets, and food cooperatives.
- Addressing food insecurity: By partnering with local charities, food banks, and statutory service agencies, we aim to address food insecurity and ensure that all residents have access to an adequate and dignified food supply.
- Supporting local producers: We advocate for policies and practices that support local growers and producers, such as fair trade agreements, farm-to-table initiatives, and investment in agricultural infrastructure.
- Promoting sustainability: We advocate for sustainable food production and consumption practices that minimise environmental impact, conserve natural resources, and promote biodiversity.
Collaborative approach
At Rother Food Partnership, collaboration is at the core of our work. We are a member of Good Food East Sussex – a larger network working to build local food systems that work for our people, our economy and our environment. We believe that meaningful change requires collective action and partnership across sectors and welcome new partners, such as:
- sustainable food businesses committed to ethical and environmentally conscious practices
- emergency food providers dedicated to addressing immediate food needs and promoting long-term food security
- local growers and producers passionate about cultivating a resilient and sustainable food system
- food waste activists advocating for systemic change and innovative solutions to reduce food waste
- local farmers and growers and producers passionate about cultivating a resilient and sustainable food system.
Sussex Six East Sussex
As part of the Sussex Six Food & Drink Campaign, over 130 quality shops, restaurants, pubs, caterers and cafés have made the Sussex Six pledge to take on at least six more locally-produced Sussex products to sell and serve in their businesses.
Most recently, the campaign was launched in Wealden and Rother with support from the district councils’ allocation of government shared prosperity funding.
Natural Partnerships, the not-for-profit organisation behind the campaign, manages sussexfoodanddrink.org – a directory of over 600 Sussex food and drink producers and the businesses which serve and sell local produce. Visit the website to find the Sussex Six businesses which are helping support our local economy and the environment.