Home Grown 2025-2029 Investment: £1,485,167 (~£370,000/year) Goal: To support sustainable UK fruit and vegetable farming for nature, environment and health.
The need
In the UK, 49% of farmers and growers fear they will go out of business in the next year and over 80% of our fruit and almost half of vegetables are imported. With less than 2% of the UK’s farmed land used for fruit and vegetable production, the industry and our already fragile food security are at breaking point (DEFRA May 2024).
There is an urgent need for increased local and agroecological fruit and vegetable production. This would help to enhance food security through thriving local markets, increased biodiversity, improved climate resilience, reduced emissions from protected peatland soils, and improved public health. Local farmers and growers are the key to solving these interconnected crises.
Project objectives Lead sector growth through farmer-led support to overcome agroecological challenges and advocate for the local and national benefits of a vibrant fruit and vegetable industry. Enable a just transition for lowland peat farmers, supporting mitigation of degradation and carbon loss and exploring alternative (peri-urban) growing areas. Advocate for the reinstatement of a national horticulture strategy and for 50% of food spend to be on local and ‘higher environmental standard’ produce, as per 2022 Government Buying Standards.
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