Developing sustainable & resilient food systems – models & strategies
at a local level
Localising the Food System: Bristol
Joy Carey Independent Consultant Member of Bristol Food Policy Council
Director of Bristol Food Network
© James Barke
Let’s explore…
• About Bristol & its food journey
• What does ‘localising’ mean?
• Our approach
• Some examples of what’s happening
• Urban food production
• Reflections to share with Trondheim
Bristol and its food journey What ‘localising’ means
Tools, mechanisms, practical examples Urban food growing
Reflections
Let’s explore…
Bristol’s ‘food journey’
© James Barke
Bristol city & region
Population:
• 421,300 in Bristol
• 1m in ‘city region’
Farms in city region:
• 860,928 ha farmland
• 23,000 holdings
• 50% <5ha
Jobs: One in ten jobs in West of England is in the Food & Drink sector
Health: 27,000 young
people overweight
Bristol’s food journey: 1996-2016
(2011)
(2009) (1998/
2009)
(2009) (2013)
(2004) (1997)
‘Localising’ the food system
© James Barke
‘Who feeds Bristol Bristol?
Towards a resilient food plan’
2011
A research report by Joy Carey, (www.bristolfoodpolicycouncil.org)
Engaged citizens
Staples from city region
‘Cook from scratch’
Diverse food retail
‘Circular economy’
A ‘whole food system’
approach
Baseline data; strengths and
vulnerabilities; positive planning powers
Food Retail
Overview:21% of Bristol food
businesses are retailers but only a quarter sell staple food items
Types of food retail:
7% supermarkets
17% butchers, bakers, fishmongers, delis, greengrocers
76% corner shops,
convenience stores, petrol stations, newsagents etc.
Specialist independent food retail: 180 shops owned by 140 businesses
Dominated by the supermarkets; limited diversity
Local food supply
Local trade: Only 3% city businesses visible – cafes, independent shops
Available within 50 mile radius: potatoes, milk &
dairy products, beef, lamb, poultry and eggs.
Not available: fruit, veg, wheat & cereals, pork.
Markets: 39 across the city region
Poor visibility & gaps in production
Urban food growing
Bristol’s allotment plots
could produce between 4%
and 5% of the city’s fruit and veg needs (199 ha)
• 485ha Council owned farms, smallholdings, allotments
• 4 City farms
• School & community gardens (70)
• Community orchards (10)
• Demonstration growing spaces in parks (new)
2000 ha could supply 15% city’s fruit & veg needs
Community food activity
Community food growing Community cooking clubs Lunch clubs
School cooking clubs School gardening clubs Food for Life schools
Tools, mechanisms, examples
© James Barke
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Role of the Bristol Food Policy Council:
• Validating
• Influencing
• Connecting & communicating
• Creating visibility
• www.bristolfoodpolicycouncil.org
Food Waste: recycling
and redistribution
Public sector food
procurement and catering
North Bristol NHS Trust: sustainable
catering award for patient food
UK's largest alternative to
£ sterling Helping to make local and
regional food suppliers visible
Buying groups &
pop-up markets
Growing the capacity of the local food system
Commercial Community
enterprise
Community gardens Allotments & GYO
Scales & types of urban food growing
There are currently 108 allotment sites provided by
Bristol city council, comprising 3851 plots (2015)
Allotments
Since opening in 2012, Feed Bristol has supported 5,500 disadvantaged people, 4,000 school children from 38 schools and over 110 different groups.
Community gardens
The Community Farm
The Severn Project, Bristol 2015:
temporary leases for urban
agriculture
Developing new
markets and a trusted brand for local food
from the Bristol area
Increasing production through land-matching & business
support
Increasing efficiencies for small scale food producers through shared resources, infrastructure and logistics
Providing learning opportunities for food producers at different levels – a certified course for Bristol growers
Scaling up urban production
A few reflections to share
Land and planning:
a major challenge
to safeguard land
for food
Involving more people from a wider
diversity of communities across the city
Retaining & upgrading key
(local) supply infrastructure
Working through partnerships
Local
Government National Health Service
Businesses NGO’s
Education Institutions
Voluntary Sector Bristol Food
Network
Bristol Green Capital Bristol
Food Policy Council
Embedding & integrating food issues in city policy
& strategy
Developing sustainable & resilient food systems – models & strategies
at a local level
Thank you!
Joy Carey Sustainable Food System Planning
f3 local food consultants, UK [email protected]
© James Barke
