How are East Anglia Food Link making a difference?
EAFL are at the cutting edge of trying to bring about food systems that reflect the principles outlined in this website. Our work is currently on two levels. On the one hand we are engaged in small but important practical projects to create elements of new, more resilient food systems and demonstrate possible ways forward. On the other hand we are engaged in policy development with local and national government as well as grassroots organisations. Our sister organisation, Provenance, is a commercial operation providing supply chain management, marketing, research and consultancy services to food businesses across the supply chain, with an emphasis on supporting, promoting and developing more sustainable and local supply chains.
Practical food projects
Our aim in supporting practical food projects is to create small exemplars of future, more resilient food systems. Our work on larger-scale local food systems has led us to conclude that truly resilient and sustainable food systems are best delivered at this time for small groups of highly committed consumers.
We see Transition Initiatives as a very powerful route to establishing this kind of food project, as well as having a powerful positive effect in developing other aspects of resilient economies. For that reason we are very actively engaged with Transition Norwich and also in close conversation with colleagues at Sustainable Bungay and Transition Diss.
Working closely with and for Transition Norwich we have submitted a funding application for an ambitious cluster of food projects in Norwich, including
- A community supported agriculture project, growing 4 acres of organic vegetables on the edge of Norwich;
- A school farm, that is, a three-acre market garden on the grounds of the Hewett High School in Norwich;
- A flour mill, providing a resilient supply of locally grown and milled flour. The flour will be sold to consumers via wholefood shops, and also to three artisan bakers in Norwich.
Another area of practical work focuses on beans. In a low-livestock diet we will rely more heavily on beans, nuts and seeds for our protein. Yet at the moment most of these are imported. We can grow various beans here in the UK, and we are developing projects to identify the most appropriate varieties, ensure that they are grown organically, and broker supplies into wholefood shops and other outlets.