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On March 9, Food-Print Utrecht Region organized the Utrecht food debate with 14 political parties in the council chamber of the city hall in Utrecht. The parties debated each other on the basis of four propositions.

The parties were in favor of a growth of 5% to 20% consumption of locally produced food by 2025. For a number of parties this percentage may be even higher. According to the politicians, this requires intensive cooperation between food producers, entrepreneurs in the region and the government. This is a complex issue that we still have a lot to learn about.

Offering healthy vegetable-rich lunches in schools was almost obvious for the debating parties. How to pay for this, however, sparked a lot of discussion. Some parties saw this as a task for the municipality and others want parents who can afford it to contribute themselves.

Opinions differed about halving the number of fast food companies in the city by 2025. Not every party was concerned that the number had grown by 2.5% even during the corona period.

The usefulness of a food and food environment department within the municipality in 2022 was disputed by the parties. However, after a short discussion with the public, most parties thought it was a good idea. A department creates more attention and focus on the theme and thus initiates more movement.

All in all an exciting evening with an enthusiastic audience, inspiring initiators of the propositions and passionate representatives of the political parties. A good prospect for our city. Towards a healthy and sustainable food environment in Utrecht!

The representatives of the political parties where: Mik Nordkamp – Bij1, Bert van Steeg – CDA, Kirsten Alblas – ChristenUnie, Has Bakker – D66, Gert Dijkstra – EenUtrecht, George Woodham – FvD, Julia Matser – Groenlinks, Dmitri Schrama – Pirate Party, Ilse Raaijmakers – PvdA, Maarten van Heuven – PvdD, Floris Boudens – Utrecht Socialists, Liesbeth Potters – Utrecht City Interest, Rémi ter Haar – Student and Starter, Anna Elkerbout – VVD.

Leaders of the theses: Mark Frederiks van , Jos Lutterman van s , Marjolein Geurts van en Simone Pekelsma van Future Food Utrecht.

The organizing committee: René Kwant – UU, Marloes Ruiter and Dagna Lek – BeBright, Hester Pruiksma – FPUR, and to the moderators of the evening: Natascha Kooiman of the Transition Coalition Food and Irene Mommers of BeBright.