VISIONARY Project: Food Provision through Sustainable Farming Systems and Value Chains

Webinar Series Spring 2024

Aberdeen University is taking part in the EU horizon and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded Visionary project titled Food provision through sustainable farming systems and value chains which also involves several other countries including Germany, Hungary, Poland, Denmark and Spain.  The project aims to improve the sustainability of agriculture by promoting those practices in food production systems that are environmentally beneficial, economically viable, and socio-culturally appropriate by researching the drivers and barriers in the adoption of such practices.  This is also to consider the necessary changes in both, policy and business models.

To date SOPA have participated in the initial organic food & farming science policy workshop, together with other stakeholders, held in person last May and, most recently, the first of the spring 2024 online webinars which focused on the policy mechanisms that can promote the transition to organic farming (meeting recording available here).

The initial in person workshop identified several requests and recommendations for Scotland including:

• Government support and policy change, including an organic action plan;
• Improvements in value and the supply chain such as abattoirs, butchers, organic inputs and processors; 
• The need for organic market development – accessible and affordable organic food, plus the importance of public procurement;
• Improvements in research & data availability and;
• An export strategy for organic food.

There are a further two upcoming dates in the first webinar series for the project on the following topics scheduled for the dates below.  If of interest, to book your place click on the link for either date below:

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- 7^thMay from 11:30am to 1pm - Exploring Sustainable Solutions: Public Food Procurement for Local and Organic Food Markets

The event will focus on exploring practical approaches to implement successful public food procurement of sustainable food(organic & local).  Raise a question in advance here.  Including details of any perceived bottlenecks at the local/regional or national level related to public policy, strategy development or practical implementation. 

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- 30^th May 2024 from 11am to 12:30pm - How to: Increasing producer capacity within local food supply systems

To raise a question ahead of this webinar please email Alex Inman, UNI Exeter here.

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At these webinars experts and professionals who specialise in these different areas in the food chain/food systems will share their knowledge and expertise.  Plus, there will be time for Q&A sessions and participants are encouraged to submit their questions ahead of time using the ‘raise a question’ links above.

If you would like further information on this project please visit the VISIONARY website here or to share your input contact SOPA's Policy Lead, Jo Barron (jo.barron@sopa.org.uk) who has been attending the project meetings to date.