Local food is more than just a popular trend and a way to reduce food miles; it's a meaningful way to make a positive impact on our communities, health and the environment.
Local food has always been important, but now more than ever, it's gaining momentum as we better understand the full impact of food production, and face global challenges like climate change and supply chain disruptions that threaten our food security. Sustain and the Landworkers’ Alliance are leading a renewed effort to strengthen local food systems with a UK Local Food Plan.
Read on to discover five compelling reasons why choosing local food is important.
1. Supports Local Economies
When you buy local food via a shorter supply chain, through independent retailers, you're directly supporting smaller farms and businesses. This keeps money circulating within the community, boosting the local economy. Supporting local food production creates better jobs across the supply chain—from farming and processing to distribution and retail—helping to sustain local employment levels.
Research by the New Economics Foundation shows for every £10 spent with a box scheme a total of £25 goes back into the local area, compared with just £14 when the same amount is spent in a supermarket.
2. Strengthens Food Security
Localised food systems enhance food security by reducing our reliance on long, intenational supply chains controlled by larger retailers. As we have seen these supply chains can be disrupted by natural disasters, extreme weather, pandemics, or other global events. While localised supply is not exempt from these issues, a robust local food network adds resilience through diversity, helping create a more reliable and steady food supply.
The Food Foundation showed that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, local food suppliers in the UK saw a 111% increase in sales, highlighting the reliance on more direct local sources during global disruptions.
3. Can Reduce Environmental Impact, and Promote Higher Animal Welfare
Local food often travels shorter distances from farm to plate, reducing carbon emissions associated with transportation. But as we know, this is only one element of the environmental impact of food, with production methods being far the greatest impact. The local food supply we are working to grow, has lower environmentally destructive chemical use, encourages biodiversity and smaller scale, and local farms are more likely to grow organically[1]. Local food systems tend to have a higher consideration for nature and soil health, compared to large-scale industrial monoculture farming.
Additionally, the UK generally upholds higher animal welfare standards compared to other countries[2]. While there are still many issues with our meat production, local processing reduces transport times to abattoirs, which could reduce animal suffering.
The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission state that a transition to agroecology could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by upwards of 70%.
4. Fresher and More Nutritious
Local food can move from farm to fork quickly, avoiding complex back and forth supply chains, which means it can be fresher and more nutritious, harvested at its peak ripeness and delivered to consumers quicker. This means better taste and more nutrients in every bite (although frozen and tinned food can be just as nutritious too).
The University of Reading reports fruits and vegetables begin to lose nutrients as soon as they’re picked. Some vegetables can lose up to half of some nutrients within a couple of days of being harvested.
5. Builds Community Connections and Preserves Cultural Heritage
Buying food from a local farmer, or more directly through a supply chain that is farmer-focused and celebrates and supports those producing the food and can foster connections between consumers and producers. This builds value into supply chains, creating a sense of community and greater awareness of where food comes from. Local food systems can also enable people to grow culturally appropriate food, and enjoy culinary traditions, contributing to cultural heritage.
The 2022 YouGov survey found the majority of British people would prefer to buy local-origin food.
In summary, local food has many benefits like supporting food security, being fresher, and supporting local businesses, but it's important to remember that "local" doesn't always mean sustainable. Also, not all our food can or should be grown nearby. The real goal is to find a balance—enjoying the benefits of local food while also supporting farming practices, wherever they are, that are best suited to protect the planet and provide nutritious food for everyone.
Why not spread the word about the importance of local food within your community? Every voice counts in making this movement stronger and more impactful.
You can find out more about local food through our Local Food Plan website and by signing up to our newsletter.
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X21001797
Published 14 Aug 2024
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