The transforming power of government food procurement - Food at Climate Week NYC 2024

Food was firmly on the menu at Climate Week NYC

At this year’s Climate Week NYC, food was a major topic. Several NGOs and corporates organised food themed sessions, including the launch event of Tilt Collective, their whole Food Day, and sessions on food and alternative proteins by UN Foundation and others. A just transition in food supply chains was a major topic as well. Climate Group hosted a panel discussion at The Hub Live on  ‘The power of policy – how to put sustainable food on the public plate’. 

In this session, subnational governments, corporates and procurement experts exchanged views and discussed possible collaborations on the common opportunities and challenges in ‘greening’ food procurement for their public institutions including schools, hospitals and correctional facilities. Government food procurement can be a powerful lever in bringing down emissions in food supply chains, creating new markets, and avoiding health costs. 

Professor Mateus Simões de Almeida at Climate Week NYC

The importance of collaboration

Mateus Simões, Vice-Governor of Minas Gerais, announced that thanks to the state's collaborations with Climate Group, Minas Gerais has now developed a new food procurement strategy that will be formally announced at COP29. 

Furthermore, Deputy First Minister of Wales, Huw Irranca-Davies, shared Wales’ work in schools on championing low-carbon food by encouraging local procurement of vegetables for school meals. 

Collaboration between governments and corporates was also a central topic of discussion; Henry Fovargue, VP Sustainability at Sysco, highlighted the importance of collecting the right data so that customers and consumers can make informed choices regarding menus and food, for instance on sustainable and locally procured food.

 “We're taking a very strong interest in making sure we can bring lower-carbon meals, including plant-based meals to our clients”.  

Moving forward, Climate Group is looking to further bridge the gaps between government procurement professionals and the private sector, and be the convenor and facilitator in shifting demand and diets in food supply chains globally. Through the Under2 Coalition, our networks of subnational governments and corporates are keen to collaborate further to make sure low-emissions food options are on public plates.

Are you a government or private sector procurement professional?

If you're a government or private sector procurement professional, contact us at info@theclimategroup.eu to share your insights!