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Hear more about the challenges and opportunities in Dorset from the manager of the Dorset AONB team.
The production of food is the fourth highest greenhouse gas emitting sector in the world. In the UK agriculture alone accounts for 10% of all carbon emissions. When you then take into account emissions from food processing, transport and food waste as well, it is estimated that the total carbon footprint of food and drink consumed in Britain is 130 million tonnes CO2e a year.
To reduce the environmental impacts of food production, but still meet the rising demands, more food will need to be produced using less land and emitting fewer greenhouse gases. This will mean farming practices, both nationally and within Dorset, will need to change.
For Dorset, where approximately 75% of the land is used for agriculture, we will need a county-wide shift to less carbon-intensive, more sustainable food production methods. Where possible the wider adoption of regenerative farming practices will be needed.
This will include making changes to the council’s own county farm estate, which comprises of 46 farms spread over 2,600 hectares.
The sector will also need to work on adapting to the changing climate. A warmer and wetter environment in Dorset will mean a change in planting and harvesting dates, crop varieties, and suitable livestock breeds. This may consequently affect food choice through price and availability.
As well as changes to food production and farming practices, a significant shift in consumer behaviour is required. There will need to be less demand for carbon-intensive foods like meat and dairy, and an increase in the sourcing of food and drink locally. A drastic reduction in food waste, which is currently equivalent to around a fifth of all food purchased, will also be needed.
Dorset Council must work towards reducing our carbon emissions output, food poverty and the level of waste produced, all while meeting the increasing demand for food. To do so, we must facilitate change by establishing the following direct, indirect and influential initiatives.
Read Dorset Council’s full discussion paper on food and drink
In 2018 South West based insurance company Cornish Mutual launched their Real Food Heroes campaign, celebrating the people behind the produce.
The campaign puts the spotlight on farms (large and small) and rural businesses across the South West that are behind the high quality food and drink that comes out of the region. Real Food Heroes came about after independent market research, commissioned by Cornish Mutual, found that many consumers in the South West wanted local farmers and producers to be recognised.
One in three South West consumers said they were buying more local produce than in previous years and the top reason given was wanting to support local farmers.
Since its launch, Cornish Mutual continues to celebrate and share stories of its Real Food Heroes - the individuals who strive to produce and provide quality food and drink for their local communities. #RealFoodHeroes
Local Food Links Ltd is a social enterprise based in Bridport. The organisation was established in 2006 and supplies freshly prepared school meals, using local ingredients and employing local people. School meals were absent from Dorset primary schools for around 20 years and many schools no longer had kitchens. In 2005, when the government announced that all schools must provide hot meals, Dorset as a county had the task of re-introducing hot meals. Local Food Links was able to offer schools without kitchens a more sustainable alternative to trucking meals 200 miles down from Nottingham – hub kitchens were formed and meals were freshly produced each day and driven a short distance to local schools.
There are now four hub kitchens supplying 56 schools across Dorset with around 4,200 meals a day. LFL works in partnership with schools and has a bespoke online ordering service that works for schools and parents. 78% of ingredients are purchased from Dorset suppliers and 95% from the South West.