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On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
On March 15, a delegation from The Hague Food Policy Council (FPC) in De Participatie Keuken handed over a 'First step to an Integral Food Vision for The Hague' to city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns. FPC coordinator Frank Mechielsen: 'With this first outline, we share with the city councillor our insights into what an effective food vision for our city and surroundings may look like. We also call on the municipality, through the councillor, to work with the FPC and all other stakeholders to accelerate the process to revisit the food vision. Earlier, the College expressed its commitment in the Coalition Agreement to update the ten-year old food strategy.
In an initial reaction city food councillor Arjen Kapteijns says: "It was great to be able to meet with The Hague Food Policy Council. II was very happy to receive the food vision in this inspiring place. De Participatie Keuken is an example of how food brings people together. There are certainly enough starting points in the food vision to build upon. I therefore also look forward to a pleasant collaboration."
“Our commitment is that an integrated food policy is given a prominent place within the municipality, because it directly touches on many major tasks facing the municipality”, Frank Mechielsen says. "The current food chain has a particularly large impact on nature and the environment, and on our health. Other issues include providing farmers around the city with a future perspective and generating jobs in a more circular, nature-inclusive agriculture, and ultimately being able to smooth housing developments. Locally and regionally, there are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this; opportunities that the municipality can exploit. In our discussion paper, we share concrete proposals on how to implement an integrated food vision. There are already numerous initiatives in our city and surroundings from which we can learn and build on."
The FPC distinguishes four main themes; Participation and democracy, Healthy food environments, Sustainable food production and short regional chains, and Circular economy and innovative entrepreneurship. For each theme, the FPC proposes concrete recommendations, including stimulating green community centres, combating food waste, developing healthy soils, giving residents more of a say in local planning, but also tackling the abundance of fast food, setting a good example in the procurement of catering within semi-government institutions, etc..
“Where the government can entice the citizen, the government should entice. Where the government needs to enforce, the government should simply enforce. Just make asustainable diet the obvious and logical choice”, said Marianne Edixhoven, founder of the green community centre StadsOase Spinozahof and member of the FPC.At City Oasis Spinozahof, residents grow food together, Lekkernassûh holds one of its weekly markets, and participants have built a community that promotes integration, self-reliance and togetherness. Participants experience demonstrably less loneliness. Marianne Edixhoven: "The municipality should encourage and incentivise more such neighbourhood initiatives."
Hence,the Hague Food Policy Council calls upon the councillor to take responsibility in creating a living environment where healthy and affordable food is a basic right for all. The council can encourage schools to include food education and cooking lessons in their curriculum (using the Healthy School, Young Learning to Eat and other existing programmes) and facilitate school gardens in the vicinity of each school, or in the schoolyard or in collaboration with easily accessible green community centres.
The presentation of the discussion paper took place in De Participatie Keuken in Moerwijk in the presence of above-mentioned people and members of the FPC Liane Lankreijer, Miriam Offermans and Frans van der Steen, and ambassador Ben Lachhab. Ben Lachhab, also the founder of De Participatie Keuken: “We talk about poverty and poor life choice, but tend to ignore the need to simply exist and survive. What is needed is strong moral and practical support so that people can make conscious food choices.”
The Hague Food Policy Council, like other Food Policy Councils in the Netherlands and beyond, is committed on a daily basis to making healthy and sustainable food policy the new normal. In neighbouring countries such as Germany (with over 70 food policy councils), the councils are already rooted locally, enabling citizens to fully participate to help influence their immediate and own (food)environments. As a result, 'citizen awareness' is growing.
Marinke van Riet, chief weaver from the European movement Healthy Food Healthy Planet and ambassador of the FPC: “The Hague Food Policy Council consciously seeks to connect with citizens and food initiatives in the city. And in doing so, it sets a clear movement from powerless consumer to powerful food citizen; which is what Healthy Food Healthy Planet is also striving for at the European level. The growing and intrinsically driven movement of residents and local entrepreneurs to strive for a more sustainable, healthier and more socially responsible food system – in existence for years – would get a huge boost if the municipality also plays its role commensurate with its size and responsibility. This requires firmly anchoring an interdisciplinary food team within the municipality.”
The Hague Food Policy Council is an initiative of the association Ons Eten Den Haag and was established as an independent voice of residents, initiatives and entrepreneurs from The Hague on healthy, fair and sustainable food. The core of the Food Council is formed by some twenty-five experts on food, food systems, nature, sustainable economy, education, healthcare and urban development. All are deeply rooted in the city and use their knowledge of different parts of the food system to advise the city council, solicited and unsolicited, on setting up a healthy and sustainable food policy.
Link to discussion paper: https://ons-eten.nl/webpagina/1331/discussionpaper-eng
For the members of the Hague Food Policy Council, see: https://ons-eten.nl/project/8670/voedselraad-den-haag
A Pan-European movement uniting civil society organisations and funders so that healthy, just and sustainable food environments become the norm and harmful agriculture ends.
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