According to the Global Food Security website the UK imports 40% of the total food we consume. Food and drink accounts for 20% of UK’s CO2 emissions and the food and drink sector produces 10 million tonnes of food waste.
The impact of your own diet
The Centre for Alternative Technology’s online interactive tool: Laura’s Larder will calculate the carbon footprint of your own diet and suggest some lower carbon alternatives
Find out about making your diet meat or dairy free at the Vegetarian Society or Vegan Society
How to reduce waste
The Real Junk Food Project uses food that would otherwise go to waste and makes healthy meals which you can buy on a Pay As You Feel basis. Find out about local initiatives in the West Midlands region including at the following locations:
Ladywood Health & Community Centre, B16 8RP. Open Wednesdays and Fridays
ORT Café, Balsall Heath, B12 9AH. Open on the 3rd Saturday of every month
Kings Heath Community Centre, B14 7DB. Open: Mondays
Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) provides useful information on how to reduce waste and has a Love Food Hate Waste campaign including:
An everyday portion planner to guide you on how much food you need for each person, for each meal.
Recipes for using up your leftovers
Some local authorities provide subsides on compost bins so that you can manage your own food waste. To find your local authority click here
You may also want to consider the waste that is generated when you buy your food: · Clean Kilo is a new supermarket in Digbeth which aims to produce zero waste.
Learn how to grow your own food
Find out more about having an allotment at All About Allotments
Apply to your local council for an allotment: https://www.gov.uk/apply-allotment
Volunteer with organic farmers and growers in the UK and abroad with World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). You can gain skills and understanding about growing food in exchange for your labour.
Campaign for more sustainable agriculture:
The Soil Association and Sustainable Food Trust campaign for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use.
Food sovereignty proposes an alternative food system that creates practical, sustainable and democratic solutions to the failed industrialised food model.
The Slow Food Movement is a global, grassroots movement that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment. Find a group near you.
Forest Food Brum is a project run by Spring to Life (a Community Interest Company) who aim to work with local communities in Birmingham to establish permanent food landscapes, provide plants, and skills, and bring people together
Bioregion Brum is a think tank which wants to give a platform to key thinkers, activists and community groups with a view to creating a practical vision for a resilient Birmingham including how we use our land and grow our food
Interested in finding out more about making positive climate actions relating to food: Come along to the CANWM Food Event on 28th March, 5pm-7:30pm at the John Lewis Community Hub, Birmingham B2 4AU - its right above New Street Station in the heart of Birmingham.
Click here to book your place at the event via Eventbrite.