Dynamic Food Procurement: A Climate and Social Breakthrough

‍Urgency, Action, Collaboration: Revolutionising Food Procurement

The drumbeat for sustainable public food procurement is growing louder, fueled by urgent calls from organisations like The Food Foundation and Food for Life. The current £2 billion spent annually on food for Public institutions—schools, hospitals, and care homes— represents a real opportunity to bring transformative change to our food system and substantially improve health, education, and climate outcomes.

Simon Heppner, CEO of Net Zero Now, emphasises this urgency:
"The role of food in health and education outcomes is undeniable, and the need to shift diets to achieve climate and sustainability goals widely acknowledged."

The launch of the Crown Commercial Service’s buying Better Food and Drink agreement, utilising principles of Dynamic Procurement delivered through Agile Chgain marks a new era. By simplifying processes, shortening supply chains, and integrating carbon tracking, this initiative exemplifies action and collaboration on a national scale.

A Long Time Coming: Why Dynamic Procurement Matters

For years, the sustainable food community have been advocating for change:
"For too long the evidence base and Policy playbook has not translated into action, so it's incredibly exciting to see Crown Commercial Service go live today with Dynamic Food Procurement."

The UK public sector spends approximately £2.1 billion annually on food. Yet, until now, procurement practices often lacked transparency, sustainability, and accessibility for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

The new Buying Better Food and Drink Agreement changes that. By emphasising sustainability and carbon reduction, it enables public institutions to:

Access local, seasonal, and nutritious food.
Work with SMEs and regional suppliers, boosting local economies.
Track and reduce the carbon impact of their procurement choices.

For Simon Heppner, this agreement is a clear example of innovative progress:
"Delivered through Entegra and with Agile Chain technology from Equilibrium Markets Ltd at its heart, this agreement covering £100m of public sector food spend will simplify food procurement through collective purchasing and shorter supply chains and reduce climate impact."

Sustainability at the Core

The agreement embraces dynamic food procurement principles, leveraging technology and collaboration to simplify processes while adhering to sustainability goals. Some notable features include:

Collective purchasing power: Reduced costs and streamlined sourcing.
Shorter supply chains: Lower emissions and fresher food.
Carbon tracking: Transparent data for actionable carbon reduction.

Net Zero Now’s expertise ensures credible and actionable carbon tracking across the value chain. Tools like carbon footprint analysis empower buyers to make decisions that align with climate targets, creating a ripple effect of sustainability throughout supply chains.

Simon Heppner adds, "The team at Net Zero Now are thrilled to be working on this breakthrough project to track the carbon impact of food served through the value chain from farm to fork and to support identification of reduction opportunities."

Empowering SMEs and Local Producers

Dynamic food procurement also democratises the marketplace, giving smaller producers a seat at the table. By allowing SMEs to participate in public contracts, the framework fosters economic diversity and encourages sustainable farming practices.

Sam Ulyatt, CEO of Crown Commercial Service, echoes this vision:
“This agreement will enable increased opportunities for SMEs across the UK to support the government’s ambitions."

The Broader Impact

Simon Heppner encapsulates the scale of this achievement:
"There is now a wealth of evidence for the social and environmental benefits of cooked meals, wholefood ingredients, and short supply chains, together with clear and actionable recommendations for the policies required to redirect public sector catering towards these goals."

The dynamic procurement framework isn’t just about food. It’s about reshaping the public sector’s approach to sustainability, proving that urgency, action, and collaboration are the keys to unlocking a net-zero future.

As the UK takes steps to meet its 2050 net-zero commitments, initiatives like this are critical. They demonstrate that innovative frameworks can deliver economic, environmental, and social value—without compromise.