Air Travel & Seasonal Produce

What is it?

Air travel has opened our world by linking distant people and places like never before, and with it the number of imported goods and produce into the UK has increased hugely. Approximately 15% of the UK’s climate impact comes from air travel and yet research shows that as of 2019, 80% of British food is imported. In 2015, the UK supplied over half of the food consumed within the UK but two other countries still accounted for 69% of the imports of fresh veg, supporting the trend of a decline in self-sufficiency in the UK over the last 30 years. So, if we know that as a country we are capable of producing our own food why aren’t we?

We are aiming to push the food economy within Cambridge and the surrounding areas to a new level of sustainability and self-sufficiency. A sustainable food economy provides a range of healthy and sustainably sourced food that does not damage the planet, whilst supporting local businesses and jobs. Sustainable practices benefit every member of society, the local economy and the environment.

Action plan

Through mutual support between all food-related businesses in Cambridge, the local food economy can prosper. Supporting local food producers will help to reduce the food economy’s carbon footprint as transport and delivery costs can be minimised, as well as strengthening the local economy. Food can be kept local by:

• Using locally sourced food, for both fresh and non-perishable food. Have a look through our collection of wholesalers of local, sustainable food from around Cambridge (as seen in the directory)

• Incorporating seasonal produce and avoiding excessive shipping. In particular, supporting any local businesses delivering with, for example: electric vehicles (such as Cambridge Organic Food Company)

• Becoming involved with community growing schemes such as Transition Cambridge Groups, such as Cropshare provide opportunities for people to learn about community food growing. Or to take advantage of the allotment provisions increasing alongside community gardens, which encourage new people to participate in vegetable growing.

resources

Take a look through our Sustainable food directory to discover a full list of the local businesses with a sustainable ethos offering locally grown, seasonal food. https://cambridgesustainablefood.org/food-directory

For more information regarding the impacts of the aviation industry read the following Greenpeace page, with the data analyses included it’s a wonder that we still import so much of the UK’s food produce.https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/challenges/air-travel/

The challenge of supply chains of produce within the UK and from around the world is highlighted by Global Food Security in their analysis of food security.https://www.foodsecurity.ac.uk/challenge/your-food-is-global/

Food security within the UK is discussed and explained at all levels on the House of Commons Library website to educate the public on this growing challenge facing the country. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/science/environment/food-security-what-is-it-and-how-is-it-measured/