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NEWS RELEASE
Thursday, 02 April 2009
Changing the food system from the bottom up
Social enterprises rooted in communities can change food systems from the bottom up – this was the message from delegates at Communities Taking Control, the first in a series of conferences held by the Making Local Food Work programme.
The sell-out conference, which took place on Monday in Birmingham, brought together a wide range of individuals and organisations from those involved in running local food community enterprises to policy makers, academics and support organisations to explore how enterprising communities can reconnect land and people through food.
Making Local Food Work is a Big Lottery-funded programme supporting communities to respond to their own food needs using community-led approaches.
The event highlighted a range of examples of communities who are doing just that – Headingly Pig and Fowl Co-op in Leeds was one case study featured which explained how members of the community addressed their need for fresh, healthy local food with clear traceable origins by forming a co-operative and directly developing a relationship with local producers.
Communities Taking Control also featured a number of high profile speakers, including a number from organisations directly involved in the Making Local Food Work Programme. Professor Elizabeth Dowler of Warwick University explored the issue of reconnection and highlighted the needs for “renewed social and ethical relationships between consumers and producers.” Professor Dowler stated that consumers are looking for more authentic and closer relationships with their food and those who produce their food; “people value authenticity.”
Delegates debated how the food supply chain can be changed or influenced from the bottom up. The answer, the conference highlighted, is not solely focused on policy change; we must find levers of self-interest that encourage individuals and communities to actively engage with producers and suppliers of their food. Localised food system can work and do work, however, more dialogue is needed between consumers and producers in order for producers to think about farming differently and for consumers to consume differently.
Due to the success of the conference and high level of interest in the day, another event will be held on 30th September 2009. If you would like and further information on Communities Taking Control or the Making Local Food Work Programme, please see our website www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk or contact us at info@makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk.
Read a report on the conference here.
