An Experiment in Urban Food Systems

The School of Food Activism is an experiment in urban food systems, posing the question - How can we use food as a vehicle for change? The project utilises the innovative community of Stokes Croft to create a space where new sustainable methods in the field of urban farming can be tested and can inspire - from growing to selling to cooking to eating. With a core focus of creating positive change in the Stokes Croft community.

The building programme will consist of an urban food market which will act as a hub for local, urban food producers, a culinary school and restaurant which will serve meals using ingredients sourced only from local urban food producers, a community kitchen and an aeroponic farm with experimental spaces for testing new methods of urban food production. The UK's current food production and distribution system has a large, negative environmental impact, where produce is commonly transported vast distances across the country and world to be sold; contributing to carbon emissions.

Furthermore, traditional farming does not make efficient use of space which, with fast growing population numbers, will quickly become an issue in years to come. Furthermore, our current economic structure in this industry sees the vast majority of revenue going to big name supermarkets and distributors, often leaving farmers with unfair prices for their time and contribution to the process.

Urban farming and the School of Food Activism provide a solution to this. Environmentally, urban farming means that far more produce can be grown per unit space due to stacking , with a reduced risk of crop loss due to conditions being controlled. The distance the crop must travel is also hugely reduced, therefore reducing carbon emissions. There is also opportunity for a new economic structure to be tested here, providing higher income for urban farmers and lower prices for consumers by keeping their interests central. These lower prices will result in increased access to healthy food for lower income groups. Income from the project is intended to be used to improve Stokes Croft community by funding the PRSC (the local Community Land Trust). Community initiatives involved with this project will include: - Access to a community kitchen providing free ingredients, frozen meals and classes on healthy cooking and growing for those who may require it. - Professional culinary training courses with employment opportunities for local unemployed people.

Opportunities for community groups, such as transient people to run their own, modular urban farms. Where they can sell their produce at the market as a source of income. The School of Food Activism will become a precedent for an innovative, fairer food production system of which hopefully many urban spaces will follow.