Food Growing Birmingham

Many individual food growing initiatives operate in the city of Birmingham and the whole conurbation. This case study aims to create a spatial vision to help bring synergies between the different food growing networks. Working in collaboration with these initiatives, including the Social Farms and Gardens network, Ryton Organics and the International Traditional Knowledge Institute, this pilot case study will develop a narrative help broaden the appeal of urban agriculture, change local perceptions about the quality of food from the region as well help existing organisations to re-establish local food growing traditions in the context of the WMNP, the need to address food security for the UK post Brexit and the impoverishment of natural resources including soil and water.

The case study would frame this work in the national and international position of urban agriculture as part of the response to the climate emergency and biodiversity loss and the SOEC’s emphasis on the significance of changing the way of local food production.

The critical part of this programme for Birmingham is to explore, identify, trial and test (if possible) and hopefully make proposals for a national standard methodology for health benefit assessment.

This would build the economic case for change and political re-prioritisation. The case study work seek intensive learning and sharing opportunities with both Trento and Gothenburg; particularly seeking local circular economy opportunities for social entrepreneurs and local food markets.

Entrepreneurial opportunities and exchange of knowledge between the different networks will create a new mentality of food growing in the area.