Transforming Food System Relationships
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: Cardiff School of Planning and Geography
Abstract
In this project, we will investigate the role that regional food systems could play in promoting healthier and more sustainable production and consumption practices, and how we can use IT to catalyse relationships between consumers and producers to achieve this. In doing so, we seek to increase the proportion of a healthy diet comprised of food produced regionally.
We will address two overarching questions: 1. How can regional UK landscapes deliver healthy food sustainably? and 2. Can new and equitable relationships between food chain actors drive more sustainable production and consumption practices? We will focus on two diverse case study regions, East Anglia (dominated by arable and horticulture) and South Wales (dominated by livestock systems). Within these case study areas there are various levels of connectivity between producers and consumers, ranging from systems where consumers communicate directly with producers, exemplified by Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups, to those where supply chains are long and consumers are disconnected from the source of their food and the environmental consequences of its production.
To investigate the first question, we will develop a model to quantify the impact of crop and livestock systems in each case study region in terms of (i) production, (ii) farm profitability, (iii) environmental impact (greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient and pesticide leaching, soil health) and (iv) associated dietary balance. We will use this model to quantify a 'business as usual state' and to explore the impact of scenarios where the configurations of crops and livestock in the region align more closely with recommendations for a healthy balanced diet. These scenarios will account for environmental, processing, and seasonality constraints. Data from existing national surveys and data collected during the project on farm practice and farmer networks will be used in the models.
The second overarching question will be addressed through farmer and consumer interviews, photo elicitation, audio food diaries, network surveys, and a series of workshops where food system stakeholders (consumers, retailers and producers) will use digital tools to facilitate co-creation of scenarios for an improved regional food system. CSAs provide a model system where consumers directly engage with producers. We will target new CSA customers, and through a series of interviews across the lifetime of the project assess to what extent these positive associations between farmers and consumers influence food choices over time. As a transformative project, we will address how to strengthen the relationship between consumers and producers (either direct or through retailers), and the implications of food choice on health and the environment. We maintain that mechanisms based on IT have an essential role to play here in transitioning to "business unusual", both in terms of building social capital and communicating the impact of choices to stakeholders in the food system. We will explore the current and future role that social media (for example Twitter) plays in building and strengthening producer-producer and producer-consumer relationships and how this could be exploited further. Within each set of workshops, we will use digital tools based on the models described above to co-create scenarios for a regional based food system. These tools will enable stakeholders to negotiate future scenarios for regional food systems by assisting them to visualise trade-offs and synergies between production, farm profitability, environmental impact and delivery of healthy balanced diets. The findings from these workshops, the network analysis and interviews will form a basis for the design of digital prototypes for connecting food system stakeholders which will be deployed and evaluated. Through these innovative interdisciplinary methods, the research team seeks novel approaches to address UK food security needs.
We will address two overarching questions: 1. How can regional UK landscapes deliver healthy food sustainably? and 2. Can new and equitable relationships between food chain actors drive more sustainable production and consumption practices? We will focus on two diverse case study regions, East Anglia (dominated by arable and horticulture) and South Wales (dominated by livestock systems). Within these case study areas there are various levels of connectivity between producers and consumers, ranging from systems where consumers communicate directly with producers, exemplified by Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups, to those where supply chains are long and consumers are disconnected from the source of their food and the environmental consequences of its production.
To investigate the first question, we will develop a model to quantify the impact of crop and livestock systems in each case study region in terms of (i) production, (ii) farm profitability, (iii) environmental impact (greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient and pesticide leaching, soil health) and (iv) associated dietary balance. We will use this model to quantify a 'business as usual state' and to explore the impact of scenarios where the configurations of crops and livestock in the region align more closely with recommendations for a healthy balanced diet. These scenarios will account for environmental, processing, and seasonality constraints. Data from existing national surveys and data collected during the project on farm practice and farmer networks will be used in the models.
The second overarching question will be addressed through farmer and consumer interviews, photo elicitation, audio food diaries, network surveys, and a series of workshops where food system stakeholders (consumers, retailers and producers) will use digital tools to facilitate co-creation of scenarios for an improved regional food system. CSAs provide a model system where consumers directly engage with producers. We will target new CSA customers, and through a series of interviews across the lifetime of the project assess to what extent these positive associations between farmers and consumers influence food choices over time. As a transformative project, we will address how to strengthen the relationship between consumers and producers (either direct or through retailers), and the implications of food choice on health and the environment. We maintain that mechanisms based on IT have an essential role to play here in transitioning to "business unusual", both in terms of building social capital and communicating the impact of choices to stakeholders in the food system. We will explore the current and future role that social media (for example Twitter) plays in building and strengthening producer-producer and producer-consumer relationships and how this could be exploited further. Within each set of workshops, we will use digital tools based on the models described above to co-create scenarios for a regional based food system. These tools will enable stakeholders to negotiate future scenarios for regional food systems by assisting them to visualise trade-offs and synergies between production, farm profitability, environmental impact and delivery of healthy balanced diets. The findings from these workshops, the network analysis and interviews will form a basis for the design of digital prototypes for connecting food system stakeholders which will be deployed and evaluated. Through these innovative interdisciplinary methods, the research team seeks novel approaches to address UK food security needs.
Technical Summary
In this project, we will investigate the role that regional food systems could play in promoting healthier and more sustainable production and consumption practices, and how we can use IT to catalyse relationships between consumers and producers to achieve this. In doing so, we seek to increase the proportion of a healthy diet comprised of food produced regionally.
We will address two overarching questions: 1. How can regional UK landscapes deliver healthy food sustainably? and 2. Can new and equitable relationships between food chain actors drive more sustainable production and consumption practices?
This project creates stronger ties between actors in the food system through targeted stakeholder interventions with producers, retailers and consumers. A novel and innovative approach to these interventions is the inclusion of integrated and co-designed IT applications to aid in communication between stakeholders. The IT applications will include backend models that quantify a region's optimal environmentally-sustainable production capacity based on a healthy diet. In addition, social network metrics will be calculated from the online social interactions of stakeholders and fed into the backend models. The frontend will be designed to maximise the communication of these outputs to stakeholders in an easy-to-comprehend way.
While innovative IT approaches seek to enhance the connectivity of actors in the regional food system, household interviews, photo elicitation and audio food diaries will collect information for analysing the impact of greater connectivity on household food culture (considered as household food purchasing, preparation and consumption) and whether these mechanisms can drive healthier and more sustainable food consumption. Triangulation of data sources will enable cross-referencing of results from analyses, facilitating a deeper understanding of how improved connectivity of actors influences household food culture.
We will address two overarching questions: 1. How can regional UK landscapes deliver healthy food sustainably? and 2. Can new and equitable relationships between food chain actors drive more sustainable production and consumption practices?
This project creates stronger ties between actors in the food system through targeted stakeholder interventions with producers, retailers and consumers. A novel and innovative approach to these interventions is the inclusion of integrated and co-designed IT applications to aid in communication between stakeholders. The IT applications will include backend models that quantify a region's optimal environmentally-sustainable production capacity based on a healthy diet. In addition, social network metrics will be calculated from the online social interactions of stakeholders and fed into the backend models. The frontend will be designed to maximise the communication of these outputs to stakeholders in an easy-to-comprehend way.
While innovative IT approaches seek to enhance the connectivity of actors in the regional food system, household interviews, photo elicitation and audio food diaries will collect information for analysing the impact of greater connectivity on household food culture (considered as household food purchasing, preparation and consumption) and whether these mechanisms can drive healthier and more sustainable food consumption. Triangulation of data sources will enable cross-referencing of results from analyses, facilitating a deeper understanding of how improved connectivity of actors influences household food culture.
Planned Impact
The proposed research aims to improve the resilience of the UK food sector, by reconnecting producers and consumers, thereby cultivating healthier diets and environmentally sustainable production systems. Therefore, this research aims to positively impact all of UK society. In the short-term, our research will benefit consumers and producers who participate in workshops and social network activities. Specifically, the research will impact: how producers relate with their customers and ultimately choose which crops to grow and livestock to rear; consumers and their understanding of, and participation in, the processes of sustainable agriculture; relationships between food intake, nutrition and health; UK and devolved government agricultural policy; the way we approach research on producer-relationships in the UK food system; and local and regional economies. In the long run, research activities and outputs will impact the ways in which different actors in the food system interact, thereby laying the foundations for the creation of strong social bonds between producers and producers; producers and consumers; and consumers and consumers.
The models identifying the capacity of different regions to produce healthy and sustainable food will be transferable to other areas of the UK and potentially internationally. Producers engaging with project researchers will benefit from the insights developed through household interviews with CSA customers. The interview tool is designed to both address our research questions, and meet producers' need to understand their impact on household food culture, so that they can provide an improved service for their CSA members / consumers. This may impact how they communicate and the type of information they share with consumers, with positive outcomes for customer satisfaction and stronger connections between consumers and producers.
The importance of social capital between producers is understood to be critical in the development of sustainable food systems, especially in the absence of strong economic incentives. Producers often receive information on farming inputs directly from other producers; this creates a network that producers rely upon for sourcing information on what crops to grow and which inputs to use. Food consumption is also highly influenced by social capital. Food is an important part of cultural identity and social wellbeing. The research team will develop innovative IT tools to help facilitate communication and relationships between producers and potential consumers of their food. A particularly impactful component of this project - and one that sets it apart from others - is the ability of the developed approaches to be replicated and scaled up to influence millions of people living in the UK.
Interactive visual tools will be developed to enable consumers and producers to interface with the agricultural models. The tools will help consumers and producers to negotiate a sustainable and healthy regional food system based on desirable production and consumption practices. The research team will also produce socio-digital tools for meaningfully connecting producers, retailers and consumers in a regionally-based food system. The tools will help actors in the regional food system to realise the desirable food system attributes identified by research participants. The tools, used in combination with outcomes from social network analysis, could potentially be widely dispersed through social networks. While the proposed research activities will deliver a prototype, these tools can serve as a first step to transforming regional food systems towards more sustainable production and healthier consumption.
Research outputs will form an evidence-base that can be adopted or adapted for local and regional authorities of each case study region. Research briefs in language appropriate for layperson will maximise project impact on local and regional place-based policy.
The models identifying the capacity of different regions to produce healthy and sustainable food will be transferable to other areas of the UK and potentially internationally. Producers engaging with project researchers will benefit from the insights developed through household interviews with CSA customers. The interview tool is designed to both address our research questions, and meet producers' need to understand their impact on household food culture, so that they can provide an improved service for their CSA members / consumers. This may impact how they communicate and the type of information they share with consumers, with positive outcomes for customer satisfaction and stronger connections between consumers and producers.
The importance of social capital between producers is understood to be critical in the development of sustainable food systems, especially in the absence of strong economic incentives. Producers often receive information on farming inputs directly from other producers; this creates a network that producers rely upon for sourcing information on what crops to grow and which inputs to use. Food consumption is also highly influenced by social capital. Food is an important part of cultural identity and social wellbeing. The research team will develop innovative IT tools to help facilitate communication and relationships between producers and potential consumers of their food. A particularly impactful component of this project - and one that sets it apart from others - is the ability of the developed approaches to be replicated and scaled up to influence millions of people living in the UK.
Interactive visual tools will be developed to enable consumers and producers to interface with the agricultural models. The tools will help consumers and producers to negotiate a sustainable and healthy regional food system based on desirable production and consumption practices. The research team will also produce socio-digital tools for meaningfully connecting producers, retailers and consumers in a regionally-based food system. The tools will help actors in the regional food system to realise the desirable food system attributes identified by research participants. The tools, used in combination with outcomes from social network analysis, could potentially be widely dispersed through social networks. While the proposed research activities will deliver a prototype, these tools can serve as a first step to transforming regional food systems towards more sustainable production and healthier consumption.
Research outputs will form an evidence-base that can be adopted or adapted for local and regional authorities of each case study region. Research briefs in language appropriate for layperson will maximise project impact on local and regional place-based policy.
Organisations
Publications
Andrews E
(2023)
Putting food in the driver's seat: aligning food-systems policy to advance sustainability, health, and security
in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Bellamy A
(2023)
Promoting dietary changes for achieving health and sustainability targets
in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
Brown H
(2022)
Socioeconomic risks of food insecurity during the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK: findings from the Understanding Society Covid Survey
in BMC Public Health
Furness E
(2022)
Communication and building social capital in community supported agriculture.
in Journal of agriculture, food systems, and community development
Global Food Security Programme
(2022)
Making community-scale food systems more resilient: Reorienting consumption practices by supporting community-scale supply chain models.
Meador, E.
(2021)
TGRAINS: CSA Twitter database - Core Database (Version 0.1.0) [Data set]
Sanderson Bellamy A
(2021)
Shaping more resilient and just food systems: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
in Ambio
Sanderson Bellamy, A.
(2021)
Shaping more resilient and just food systems: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic
in Amio
Sharp R
(2024)
Implications and impacts of aligning regional agriculture with a healthy diet
in Journal of Cleaner Production
Description | Data collected during TGRAINS has demonstrated the role that community-supported agriculture (CSA) schemes have in improving both the health and sustainability of household diets. CSA diets, compared to control group diets, are higher in vegetables and legumes and lower in meats, sugar and fats, with 28% lower CO2 emissions. Our results also confirm previous results that show that CSA households tend to have a higher income than the UK national average, with higher socio-economic class (indicated by the type of occupation). These results are of significance to society because they indicate that British citizens are willing to make the dietary changes that will be needed in order to reach the UK's 2050 zero-emission targets. The results also indicate that lower emission diets are also healthier. A regional-based UK food system can provide healthy and sustainable diets, and food system resilience can be achieved through strengthening social capital among food system stakeholders by: (a) building connections between consumers, retailers and producers at local- to regional-scales in the UK; and (b) co-producing a food system that is healthy and ecologically sustainable. Building social capital can catalyse a transformation in household and local food culture and agricultural practices with positive feedback loops for building resilience and sustainability. Other results with policy implications include: 1. Embedding CSAs into local policies can help local authorities develop and execute better targeted and more resilient food strategies. 2. Building relationships back in the food system by promoting community-scale supply chains can lead to healthier and more sustainable outcomes. 3. Food inequality can be addressed through the CSA model by subsidising the system, e.g. (double-value) vouchers for low-income families to access CSA-produced food. 4. Increasing the production of plant proteins may require investment as these crops tend to be less profitable than major cereals. 5. Participating with other actors across the supply chain will co-create change based on stakeholder buy-in and cooperation from the start. 6. Promoting the value of CSAs is a means for a) creating routes to market via direct purchase and b) diversifying on-farm production. 7. Better collaboration with farmers to promote new and diverse horticultural production can achieve diets that are both healthy and sustainable. 8. Food aid charities collaborating with farms can develop more resilient models of food accessibility via community-scale supply chains. 9. Considering how farms can be incorporated into community-scale initiatives can promote healthier, more sustainable diets. 10. Investing in higher-yielding plant protein and diversified plant protein sources could improve profits, reduce the need for subsidies and reduce the fertiliser/pesticides required. 11. There is potential for more investment in regional processing facilities which contribute to the provenance and value of 'locally-produced' food. 12. The large gap between the amount of legumes consumed and what we need to be consuming to meet Eat Lancet targets create opportunities for investment in plant protein. These are the first results to be reported from the project, however, there is still some data analysis to be done and written up. |
Exploitation Route | These results raise more research questions. Households that join a CSA (and comprise our CSA research sample) do so because they are motivated to make a change to their diet, most often because of either health or sustainability reasons. Therefore, are there similar outcomes when including households in a CSA who are unmotivated to make dietary changes? TGRAINS research is also investigating the impact of the relational aspects of CSA membership and how this contributes to dietary changes. Are the relationships, the information shared and the sense of shared values that grows between the farmers and CSA members enough to inspire dietary changes for unmotivated households? We are seeking follow on funding to address the following questions: 1. Do unmotivated households make dietary changes after joining a CSA? 2. Do unmotivated food insecure households make dietary changes after joining a CSA similar to average unmotivated households or do they face additional barriers to changing diets? 3. Can farm partners implement new accessibility models to extend the positive impacts of a CSA diet to food insecure households in the long-term? During June-December 2021, we ran a pilot project with some additional funding to test the impact of joining a CSA vegetable bag scheme on food-insecure households. We also used the opportunity to work with CSA partners on testing different solidarity models. Initial results from this work shows that food-insecure households improve both food security and wellbeing aspects when being a part of the CSA veg bag scheme and community. This work has gained significant interest from the Welsh Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs and the Minister for Social Justice and the Food Division of Welsh Government, who have asked for evidence to use towards developing Welsh Labour's Community Food Plans. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Healthcare |
URL | https://tgrains.com/ |
Description | Findings from the Accessible Veg pilot project have supported CSA farmers in developing and implementing solidarity models in their veg bag schemes, making it possible for food-insecure households to also access healthy and sustainably-produced foods. Findings have also played a role in the Welsh Minister of Social Justice making funds available to support local food partnerships in Wales. |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
Impact Types | Societal,Policy & public services |
Description | Debate in Welsh Assembly on a Food System Fit for Future Generations |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
Description | Funding for Community Food Partnerships |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Impact | 18 out of 22 local authorities in Wales was able to access the funds to pay the salary of a local food partnership coordinator and to fund locally-planned sustainable food activities to meet community needs for healthy, sustainable and accessible food. |
URL | https://www.gov.wales/written-statement-cost-living-summit-0?_ga=2.139311734.455406024.1657548940-96... |
Description | Welsh Labour Community Food Strategy |
Geographic Reach | National |
Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
Title | TGRAINS: CSA Twitter database - Core Database |
Description | The first release of the TGRAIN Core Twitter database. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | Advancing the understanding of Twitter social media communication associated with Community Supported Agriculture |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/4519388 |
Title | TGRAINS: CSA Twitter database - Core Database (Version 0.1.0) |
Description | The first release of the TGRAIN Core Twitter database. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | NA |
URL | https://zenodo.org/record/4519388#.YCFUAZP7RhE |
Description | CIWM: Sustainable and just food system futures |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) are working with the Welsh Government under the 'CIWM Resources Conference Cymru' banner on a series of webinars to discuss key issues around their Beyond Recycling consultation. Taking place on Tuesday 3rd November from 09:30 - 10:45 hrs, we will host the first in this series on 'Climate Change and the Circular Economy', a discussion on how more efficient resource use and a more resilient circular economy can support the Welsh net zero carbon aims and reduce emissions. We would be delighted if you were able to participate providing an introduction on your work on sustainable food waste systems and also as a panellist for questions at the end of the session. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Cardiff City-Region People's Food Assembly |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | On the 7th November 2020, almost 70 people living and working in Cardiff Capital Region came together virtually to collectively imagine the future of food in the area. As part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2020, the event was organised in partnership by the Sustainable Places Research Institute, Cardiff University and Food Cardiff. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/view/2494670-field-to-fforc-peoples-assembly-on-future-of-food-in-car... |
Description | Cardiff University Innovation Network Evening: Food systems resilience and transformations: industry and policy perspectives |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Cardiff University has introduced hundreds of companies to our expertise, knowledge and facilities through our Innovation Network. We hold a series of free events throughout the year, covering topics on innovation, enterprise and entrepreneurship. These events provide a great opportunity to connect with our expertise and with local business people, and to hear inspirational, thought-provoking speakers. The network has circa 1,800 members consisting of business people from a wide range of industries, companies and organisations as well as academics. Around 70% of our members are local small and medium-sized enterprises. The remainder are from business support organisations and academia. Our events are usually held in the early evening for around 80 people, followed by a light buffet supper and networking. On the 02 October the Sustainable Places Research Institute will be holding an Innovation Network event 'Food systems resilience and transformations: industry and policy perspectives' |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Food Security in Wales |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Food Security in Wales Wednesday 21st September 2022 With Public Health Network Cymru The whole population is affected by food security to some degree but vulnerable population groups will be particularly negatively affected, especially in the coming months. Food security has been defined as being "When all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life" (FAO, 1996). A report published by Public Health Wales highlights how the combined influences of Brexit, Coronavirus and climate change will potentially impact all of us through the food that we are able to buy. This webinar provided a background to the current Welsh and UK legislative and policy context in relation to food security and the impact that food security has on the health and wellbeing of the population. The webinar also shared how local food partnerships are mobilising community food leaders and advocating for better access to affordable, healthy and sustainable food. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://publichealthnetwork.cymru/event/food-security-in-wales/ |
Description | Food in the Communities Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
Results and Impact | Presented the Accessible Veg Pilot project activity at the conference and project results. There was high interest among the audience, with many questions and several members of the audience following up with me afterwards. One follow up has resulted in an additional consultancy project. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.foodsensewales.org.uk/good-food-movement/food-in-communities-conference-2022/ |
Description | Global Food Security Workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | The following was the description used for the workshop: "Not only do we seek to design a future food system that is resilient and sustainable, but it must also be acceptable for consumers. In this workshop we will explore the consumer perspective on their food system, the role that they play in this system, their vision for a future food system and the changes that must be made at a personal level in order to achieve that vision." In the workshop, we used the tool developed in the team in our workshop to illustrate its effectiveness for those attending the workshop and may want to carry on similar activities. We had 30 attendees who found the activity very useful for stimulating discussion about the future of our food system. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Institute of Welsh Affairs Blog |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Hope you are well. As you know WWF Cymru is continuing to work on food system in Wales which includes a focus on influencing the SFS and Agri Bill to create a system in Wales that support sustainable food production that is accessible to new entrants, variety in production recognised / valued and supports wider community outcomes (and of course env outcomes!) As part of our influencing we see the gap in the narrative on these issues with discussions in politcial / public debate that tend to be dominated by existing farming models amplifying voices associated historically with farming unions and their members. We have therefore set an aim to produce and / or give a platform to a series of blogs / think pieces from October to December which provide alternative visons for future of food and framing in Wales. Your recent research and write up was shared with me by Shea https://tgrains.com/accessible-veg-pilot-project/ We have secured a slot on IWA platform to talk about the importance of CSA so we are looking for people who would like to take up this space. Ideally talking about the value of CSA and also start to explore how this alternative ownership model identifies the blockages in the current system which are making things harder and should be changed in the new SFS scheme. What you think is needed in SFS, Agri Bill, and / or community food strategy or Food Bill to enable this. Also open people up to issues about fairness to access to land and the equality and diversity narrative we want to build in this debate as it often seems missing i.e that there is more to rural Wales than the type of farmer the unions represent and access to land must consider equality and diversity. As well as the output / outcomes from that land shared. If you are interested in taking this slot / opportunity with IWA please let me know. We would support you if need it and the deadline for copy is 20th October. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.iwa.wales/agenda/2022/11/community-supported-agriculture-in-wales-caring-for-the-land-an... |
Description | National Museum Wales: What is the future of Food in Wales |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Recent events have highlighted how crucial a sustainable food system to our nation's future. Food is central to our health and wellbeing, culture, society, economy and is an important part of tackling the climate and nature crises we face. Join Food Sense Wales and an expert panel to discuss what the future of food in Wales might look like. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://museum.wales/whatson/food-festival-2020/programme/11221/Food-Sense-Wales-presents-What-is-th... |
Description | Open Food Network Panel |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Continuing on from our last event - Addressing systemic inequality in our food system: a panel discussion - we wanted to approach the topic in a different way. Food equity is an issue that is rooted in systemic inequality, which can often feel bigger than us. But, together, we can talk about it, participate in the conversation and co-create solutions through sharing experience and knowledge. That's why we wanted our next session to be a community roundtable, tackling the issue of food equity. Because we want to encourage thoughts and ideas to emerge from interactive conversation and exploration of diverse perspectives. This will be an amazing opportunity to connect with other people who care about baking food equity into the fabric of their communities, as well as with those who share a common interest in building fairer food systems that benefit - and feed - everyone. Because our movement is filled with people doing amazing work addressing food poverty and working for food justice - and this session will help bring all of our heads together! This is also going to be a welcoming space for those who are interested in the conversation and want to learn more - and perhaps find a way to participate in finding solutions together. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.facebook.com/events/1204017746883306/ |
Description | Oxford Real Farming Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented the results and key lessons learned from the Accessible Veg Pilot project. There was substantial interest among the professional practitioners about how to implement similar activities in their farm businesses. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://orfc.org.uk/ |
Description | Rural Vision for Wales podcasts: Community wealth-building and local food systems |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was part of a series of podcasts that were organised linked to the Rural Vision for Wales developed by Aberystwyth University together with the WLGA Rural Forum. The podcasts were presented by the former First Minister Carwyn Jones in discussion with a rural local authority representative and two other stakeholders with interests in the topic. The podcast discussed how the resilience of rural communities in Wales might be strengthened through the contribution of local food systems, public procurement and supporting community enterprises. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://businessnewswales.com/wales-rural-vision-podcast-series-episode-6-community-wealth-building-... |
Description | Stakeholder workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Workshops will contribute to testing the following hypotheses: 1. Strengthening social capital among regional food system stakeholders leads consumers to modify household food culture towards healthier regional-based diets. 2. IT can promote stronger relationships in regional food systems by increasing bridging social capital (as measured by the proportion of second degree node ties) in online social networks, which will significantly increase the overall network density. 3. Changing the food produced in a region (through changes in farm production and management) to align better with a healthy diet can also reduce the impact of agriculture on the environment (for instance biodiversity, GHG emissions, nutrient leaching). Participants: Each workshop to have 15 participants consisting of CSA consumers, farmers, retailers, non-CSA consumers Workshop aims: - to explore mechanisms to foster relationships between regional food system stakeholders - to develop joint understanding of the terms used by different stakeholders to articulate sustainable and healthy food practices, regional food, and the food system - to understand different stakeholder perspectives on a sustainable and healthy regional food system, and points of conflict and agreement - to share academic perspectives on sustainable and healthy regional food, and explore missed opportunities for conflict and agreement - to understand the stakeholder needs for a tool to co-create a regional food system - to understand the stakeholder needs for realising an agreed vision for a regional food system - to understand the perceived constraints and barriers to regionally based-diets (i.e. milling, distribution). Would stakeholders like to see these constraints or barriers removed or are they part of an efficient system? Is it feasible to remove them - in which case how should this be done? Are there any unexpected consequences that this could bring. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Sustainable Wales: Why do we need a circular economy in Wales |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Hello from Sustainable Wales! We are delighted to announce that this October, Sustainable Wales is hosting a four-part webinar series called Circular Economy: A Design for Life and we would like to invite you to join us. Each week we will come together around a collective conundrum exploring why we need a Circular Economy in Wales, and how we can get there. 7th October @ 6:30pm - Why do we need a Circular Economy in Wales? 14th October @ 6:30pm - Is a Zero-Waste lifestyle really possible? 21st October @ 6:30pm - How can the Circular Economy create local jobs? 28th October @ 6:30pm - Do we need a Circular Economy Act for Wales? They sit within the context of Welsh Government's Circular Economy consultation and strategy that is due to be published at the end of the year, and aims to lead Wales to being a zero waste, 100% recycling, carbon neutral nation by 2050. We believe it is vital to raise awareness of, and engagement with, the Circular Economy at a more local, community level, and therefore want to get people's experiences and questions to feedback to stakeholders across Wales and the UK. Anyone and everyone with an interest in achieving zero waste is welcome to join us, whether you're completely new to the world ofrefuse, reduce, reuse, repair & recycle, or you've been designing, implementing and campaigning for a Circular Economy for decades! We have an innovative and experienced group of activists and experts to speak with us, and enthusiastically answer any questions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | TGRAINS stakeholder workshops |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | We ran two stakeholder workshops, one in each of our study regions (South Wales and East Anglia) to test the visual digital tool for interacting with the agricultural model developed by TGRAIN team members. We are analysing the data from the workshops to write up in a publication. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://model.tgrains.com/landscape/101/production |
Description | Wales Real Food and Farming Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Contradictions and crises in our food system - Welsh policy and the Well-being of Future Generations Act Chair: Dr Angelina Sanderson Bellamy, University of the West of England Speakers: Katie Palmer, Food Sense Wales; Rhys Evans, NFFN The Well-being of Future Generations Act requires public bodies in Wales to think about the long-term impact of their decisions, to work better with people, communities, each other and to prevent persistent problems e.g., poverty, health inequalities, climate change. A panel of experts, convened by Food Policy Alliance Cymru, will consider whether the Act's principles of prevention, integration, collaboration, involvement, balancing short-term and long-term needs, are reflected in policy across Wales' food system, and what the opportunities are for doing so. The session provides an opportunity to explore the current failures in our food system and the opportunities to co-create a holistic vision ahead of the draft Food (Wales) Bill being presented to the Senedd. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://wrffc.wales/cynhadledd-2022-conference/ |
Description | Webinar for DAERA (Northern Ireland) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | 100 participants from DAERA attended the webinar, where I presented the results from TGRAINS and discussed the policy implications. I had a follow-up meeting with Joy Alexander, who was the head of Food Policy, to further discuss how the results could feed into their policy development to support short supply chains. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |