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Examples of implementation: Bristol's 'Good Food Action Plan' (2015) (UK) included plans to develop a Bristol Pollinator Strategy, which would aim to promote improved habitat management for insect pollinators needed for food production (Barbour et al., 2022, S6).
Examples of implementation: As part of the 'GO TO 2040 Regional Comprehensive Plan' of Chicago (USA), there was plans for local government to maintain and improve current farmland protection programs (Barbour et al., 2022, S6). Under the Nairobi Urban Agriculture Promotion and Regulation Act (2015) (Kenya), several key activities were detailed for protecting and enabling urban agriculture including to regulate access to land and water for urban agriculture purposes, with priorities given to high-density areas and informal settlements (Barbour et al., 2022, S6).
Types of identified best-practices to promote via financial incentives: protection of animal welfare standards (e.g. prohibit use of factory farmed livestock in public facilities); supporting traceability systems; increased organic farming, prohibiting pesticides and fertiliser use and sharing cost of organic certification for small-medium businesses.
Examples of implementation: Under the Sustainable Food Procurement Regulations in Zurich City (Switzerland) (2010), regulatory measures were adopted to increase procurement of fair-trade products and those in line with international labour standards as well as organic, seasonal and less energy-intensive products (Barbour et al., 2022, S6). The City also planned to implement measures for abandoning the use of meat from national and international factory farming in municipal public canteens (Barbour et al., 2022, S6).
Examples of implementation: Barbour et al., (2022) report on the Topager "WildRoof" (2013) initiative, which was a programme awarded funding from the City of Paris as part of its strategy and investment in urban agriculture. The initiative sought to design, build and manage rooftop gardens for urban food production as well as other purposes included food and landscape interaction, therapeutic roles, social inclusion and biodiversity. The gardens are designed to incorporate circular economy, agroecological methods and consideration of urban composting and soil management with earthworms.
Examples of implementation: Barbour et al., (2022) and Godrich et al., (2023) both report on several examples of locally implemented strategies with incentives for food sustainability practices in the food retail and service setting. In the 'Plate up for Glasgow' (UK) initiative, 41 cafes, restaurants and bars in Glasgow offered at least one low waste 'Food Hero' menu item over the course of five weeks, with 88% of venues pledging to keep low waste dishes on menu after the pilot period (Godrich et al., 2023). The Paris (France) Strategy for Sustainable Food (2018) outline several initiatives to promote food sustainability including providing assistance to restaurant owners to increase vegetarian offerings with awards to incentivise this practice called 'sustainable restaurant certificates' (Barbour et al., 2022, S6). In the 'GO TO 2040 Regional Comprehensive Plan Chicago' (USA) (2010), plans to promote local and sustainable food included supporting and expanding alternative food retail options (farmers' markets, food co-ops, on-site school programs, etc) as well as encouraging businesses and restaurants to support local food through menu and product labelling" (Barbour et al., 2022, S6). The 'Healthy & Sustainable Food for San Francisco' (USA) (2009) policy document outlined several actions for incentivising healthy and sustainable food retail and businesses such as the airport introducing 'slow food' vendors and a restaurant recognition programs for environmental conservation, local food use, nutrition in underserved communities and food safety standards (Barbour et al., 2022, S6).
What we know: Siegner et al., (2018) states that one policy recommendation from the literature is to tie in local 'good food' policies with local climate action plans in order to promote both urban agriculture and alternative food waste management alongside potential climate benefits like reduced greenhouse gas emissions. These 'good food' polices are also not only about healthier food but also good animal welfare, good environmental practices and supporting economic viability from producers/farms to table (Siegner et al., 2018).
Examples of implementation: The Bristol 'Good Food Action Plan' (2015) is informed by the 'Good Food Charter (2012), which defined good food as "not only tasty, healthy, affordable, but must also be produced and distributed in a way that it is good for nature, good for workers, good for animal welfare and good for local businesses" (Barbour et al., 2022, S6). Several other local food strategies and plans cited in Barbour et al., (2022) from Brighton and Hove (UK), Quito (Ecuador), Vancouver (Canada) and Dakar (Senegal) all acknowledge linkages to their city / local climate change plans and/or strategies.
Types of identified networks: Urban agriculture task forces with citizen representatives; Network of actors of sustainable food via a digital platform and directory to connect projects and suppliers supporting sustainable food; Food producers network with stakeholders from neighbouring councils to ensure consistency of approach and enable urban, peri-urban and rural linkages.
What we know: Siegner et al., (2018) suggest that strong local community networks bringing together non-profits, schools, donors and city governments could be a promising mechanism for improving food access through urban agriculture initiatives, but there was no reporting on efficacy.
Examples of implementation: The New York City GreenThumb program is a network of 550+ community gardens with employees, youth interns, tools and resources provided through the city but neighbourhood residents working to manage the gardens, which provides some elements of ownership and decision-making over what is planted (Siegner et al., 2018). The Paris (France) Strategy for Sustainable Food (2018) outlines he creation of a digital 'network of actors of sustainable food' and directory of local sustainable food projects (Barbour et al., 2022, S6). The Bristol's 'Good Food Action Plan' (UK) (2015) involves collaboration between Bristol City Council and the Bristol Food Network (i.e., local Food Policy Group) as well as efforts to scale up the Bristol Food Producers Network (Barbour et al., 2022).
What we know: There is limited but inconclusive evidence of efficacy for bans on retailer incentive programme contracts between tobacco manufacturers and retailers. Reimold et al., (2022) cited an example from Quebec (Canada), where an incentive programme ban showed no effects on tobacco pricing after one year of implementation, with authors suggesting there being a need for additional research and potentially supplementary policies and/or enforcement measures to improve compliance.
Types of identified policies: A per cent mark-up on the wholesale/retail price of a tobacco product; minimum floor price beneath which product cannot be sold; caps on the pre-tax manufacturers' price; minimum excise tax.
What we know: There is limited but inconclusive evidence on the effects of a minimum excise tax (MET), with no empirical studies identified in the review by Hatchard et al., (2023). Some cited papers proposed the introduction of minimum consumption tax (i.e., extend MET to include VAT), which could affect price of hand-rolled tobacco (Hatchard et al., 2023). Cited modelling evidence suggested that a wholesale price cap approach in the UK could raise around £500 million annually (Hatchard et al., 2023). There was limited evidence that areas implementing minimum pricing laws saw increased average cigarette prices (Golden et al., 2016).
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