Leicestershire Sustainable Farming & Food Chain
Delivering wholesome and affordable food has always been a priority for farmers and food processors. There are challenging times ahead with increased climate and environmental concerns, changes to rural support and our trading relationships as a result of Brexit.
On 27th October 2020 a workshop was held. With an opening introduction by Minette Batters, the president of the National Farmers Union we discussed the solutions for the future we face. Together with contributions from Leicestershire County Council, Melton Food Partnership, Brooksby College and local farmers and food processors.
Most recently The Allerton Project held the inaugural procurement summit, which was a positive meeting with many stakeholders from within the supply chain. Read more of the outcomes below.
This page is dedicated to the outcomes of the event and a proactive approach to:
Set the food and farming scene, both nationally and locally.
Inform on what is already in place in Leicestershire and the East Midlands.
Look at how our food and farming will adapt to the future.
Purchasing and procurement.
What support can be offered with public awareness, marketing, closer communications and partnerships.
Identifying what skills might be needed in the future
We are actively seeking participants in the next stages of the group by asking both attendees and wider audiences to register their interest. Below you can view all five focus groups and register your interest using the form below.
See more here;
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Procurement and Producer Group
Climate Friendly Farming, Innovation & Skills
Melton Food Hub
Leicestershire Procurement and Producer Group
How do we make local procurement happen?
Action:
Strategic discussion with Local Authority and service providers.
Help facilitate a workshop and further discussion around local producer groups
Local food procurement & local distribution networks. Benefits of local nutritious food.
Local authority, Hospitals (provision of local food) & School Meal Services and food hubs (education and nutrition programme).
Barriers to entry price, scale, range of goods, one stop shop. These will be linked to the Leicestershire Producer Groups.
How do we value, the environment, animal welfare? More focus from this group on food and drink manufacturing within the Local Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership.
How can farmers help the carbon conundrums that Leicestershire County Council wish to address within Environmental Strategies?
Some participants identified.
What is currently in existence? e.g. Edible 16 and Melton Food Hub.
Landscape led for biodiversity, carbon and food production business at the core.
Assemble information around developments to assist producer groups, direct marketing advice and facilitation.
How can new Government support help?
Food product development, technology, hygiene and digital data use.
Some participants identified.
Meeting minutes
Download the latest meeting minutes here
Climate Friendly Farming Group
Regeneration, carbon and local nature recovery
Action:
Formation of Regenerative Agriculture, Carbon & Local Nature Recovery Group in Leicestershire and Rutland.
Regenerative Agriculture, knowledge exchange and training. Machinery Pool?
Climate friendly farming approach addressing Net Zero.
Local nature and landscape recovery developing opportunities & partnerships in environmental land management
Farm visits and workshop.
Lead participants identified.
Meeting minutes
Download the latest meeting minutes here
Melton Food Hub
Action:
Collaboration. Engage with Melton Borough Council and Food Enterprise Centre around plans for local producer and food retailers.
Formation of a working group to deliver Innovative Ideas.
- Building on collaborations with Brooksby Melton College, YFC and other training establishments on skills training for our future food and farming. Coordinated teaching programmes with local authority, local retailer and producers. Linking to AHDB Skills Leadership Group & Institute of Agricultural Management.
- Kids Clubs, Rural Youth and Climate Change Programmes.
- Cycling and walking tourism network, linking local food businesses and wildlife sites. Some participants identified.
- Developing additional fruit and vegetable hubs on larger arable farms.
Lead participants identified.
What help, as a group, can we give to Melton to identify the most effective way forward to reach a wider audience?
Is this model transferable within Leicestershire (and Rutland)?
Lead participants identified.
Meeting minutes
Download the latest meeting minutes here
Register your interest
Get in touch and let us know which area of Leicestershire sustainable farming and food chain you are interested in.