Today we’re at the “Fringe Farming In London” event being run by @UKSustain & @MayorofLondon
Together we’re asking: can we support agro ecological food production in the capital and beyond?
#food #agroecology #farming #periurban
Together we’re asking: can we support agro ecological food production in the capital and beyond?
#food #agroecology #farming #periurban
One key question is what is the role of #greenbelt - 22% of London’s land is greenbelt but it is largely seen as a place of recreation rather than as a place of production
Brian from @organiclea suggests the idea of not just a Garden City or a Nation Park City but a Market Garden City....,
OrganicLea @organiclea trained 108 trainees in horticultural courses to City & Guilds Level 1&2.
50% progressed to employment or further training.
#skills #food #agroecology
50% progressed to employment or further training.
#skills #food #agroecology
Potential for peri urban farming using #localgov glasshouses and public land - partnerships with county councils to support #countyfarms to supply the London market
Periurban agroecological farming can help us achieve a just carbon transition. @organiclea is a net carbon sink!
Potential to link up the @MayorofLondon Good Growth Fund , adult skills budgets, and the food, employment and carbon transition agendas to rapidly expand the scale of #periurban agroecological farming
What are the opportunities for doing this? @vickihird points to the potential for accessing ELMS payments for public goods including public access and agroecology skills & knowledge sharing
Can we bring about a renaissance in market gardening in and around the capital? @vickihird
Julie Brown from @growcomm on routes to market: 30 sustainable farmers sell through a veg box scheme and farmers market - and have now established @BetterFoodTrade which prioritises trading with small/med agroecological growers
By reducing distribution costs and waste through using short supply chains @BetterFoodTrade are able to pay #agroecological growers higher prices - effectively paying for the public they goods they provide
A different approach to supply chains is being developed by Dynamic Food Procurement who aim to divert >33% of UK public sector food and drink spend to fresh, local produce from sustainable SME producers by 2023 dynamicfood.org
Sinead from @awesidefarm on the challenges for London growers: competition for land, insecurity of tenure, reliance on grants & therefore on activities other than growing, supplying premium produce to high end restaurants that you can’t eat at on growers wages & not communities
How do we build real equity into our food system and provide good affordable food for the most marginalised? @Didara
Getting into the workshop sessions ... how can we improve access to peri urban land for #agroecological #farming?
Half an hour later and we have an action plan to improve access to peri urban land for #agroecological #farming... Great facilitation from Janelle @UKSustain!
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