Mapping Local Food Webs

The Mapping Local Food Webs project is a national initiative to engage the skills and knowledge of local people to research the spread of local food networks from consumer to producer and their impact on the local community, economy and the countryside. In total the project will cover thirty towns and cities across England. It aims to achieve better understanding of the challenges facing local food networks, to build links within communities between residents, shopkeepers, food producers and policy makers, and to create opportunities to influence local, regional and national policy and planning decisions.

Glossary
A food web consists of the links between farmers and growers, processors, suppliers, local food shops as well as other local food providers (such as farmers markets, box schemes, community supported agriculture and food cooperatives) through to consumers.

Pilot phase
The project will be in its pilot phase in six regions from January to March 2009. The pilot in South West England is taking place in Totnes and the surrounding area, and is being supported by Transition Town Totnes.

Background
The project forms part of the Making Local Food Work programme funded by the Big Lottery from 2007 - 2012. The project is led by CPRE with the support of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Related topics

 * Transition towns South West England