This session will explore the vital role local governments play in driving food system change across the UK and examine how local government drives food system change through planning policies and regulations, promoting sustainable agriculture and building opportunities to share knowledge and local buy-in for new technologies. It will also look at how local governments can create opportunities for new routes to market, supporting local food economies and the relevance of food partnerships to support this agenda. Discussions will focus on the contrast between rural and urban local authorities across the country and how they can work together to create better rural-urban connections.