As society is forced to reduce energy consumption and oil-dependence, there will be an increasing need for localised economies, where the basic requirements of society (such as food) are supplied as close as possible to the point of consumption. Strong local communities with experience of working together to meet their basic needs will be much better placed to thrive in an oil-poor world than societies that rely on globalised production and distribution systems.

f3 members have been at the forefront of a series of alternative food production and distribution systems that not only reduce the dependence on oil, but are also fundamental in building stronger local inter-dependent communities. Enabling new and appropriate local food enterprises requires committed participation from diverse stakeholders. We can provide the process by which local needs can be translated into concrete projects and enterprise.

f3 has been involved in community food initiatives from both the strategic perspective and with practical hands-on projects. Here are a few examples:

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): CSA is a model of farming in which the risks, rewards and responsibilities of food production are more evenly shared by consumers and farmers/growers than in current supermarket-dominated systems. Three f3 members have between them been involved in setting up CSAs. They support landowners, farmers and community groups to set up CSA projects and provide advice on all aspects from crop planning and harvesting systems to participatory planning, legal structures and conflict resolution. For more details click here.

Stroudco: an innovative concept by two f3 consultants which has been piloted in Stroud, creates a local distribution system based aorund a co-operative of producers and consumers. Weekly drop-offs are planned at a community centre. This follows on from the Stroud Community Agriculture project, a community owned farm supplying vegetables and meat to over 200 families.

RCMA Social Enterprise: f3 has now prepared two successive business plans for this Cardiff-based community-led social enterprise which manages a range of food and health projects. The enterprise has since won 7 awards for community, health and economic contributions.

West Midlands: evaluation of local food initiatives - for Advantage West Midlands. Research and stakeholder dialogue to evaluate the impact of local food initiatives on local health, community, environment and economy. This included the use of the five capital assets to assess impacts, including use of the LM3 local multiplier tool, which was then used to model impacts based on an inputs/outputs/outcome framework. Research included in-depth interviews and workshops with all relevant stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of public sector support frameworks.