In the wake of Brexit, growing awareness of the climate emergency, and now Covid-19 we need to look at how we can create a better, more resilient nature-friendly food system. All over the UK food partnerships in towns and cities are beginning to look at how urban farming and food growing can contribute to a meaningful re-localisation of food supply. Academic studies have shown that 15% of fruit and vegetables could be produced in towns.
There is an emerging cluster of pioneering towns and cities which are taking this agenda forward. The new Urban Agriculture Consortium is looking to work with a range of pathfinder places to explore how this might best be supported in the coming years. As this work is at an early stage, this networking and discussion session (part of Ethical Consumer Week) will help to shape the programme across the North and in other parts of the UK.