With the pressure of climate change people are now thinking about not just the type of food they are consuming but where it comes from and the all important sustainability of it.

The trend is moving forward with non-meat protein alternatives, these plant based proteins such as Black Beans, Tofu, Tempeh, Chickpeas, Broccoli, Quinoa, Lentils, Tahini, Mushrooms, Nuts & Seeds pack a protein punch and offer great alternative to meat.

Sowing the seeds for change

Grains and other crops which are helping to improve soil health together with a varied array of plants creating good biodiversity. This is the way forward to ensure our farmers can continue to grow healthy crops which are more robust, thus cutting down the use of pesticides.

From 2023 the UK Government plans changes to its agriculture policy by paying farmers and landowners to restore biodiversity by planting trees and other habitat like hedgerows, wildgrass meadows and restoration of peatland.

Sustainable Seasonal Produce

We are so used to having strawberries and other produce year round, we want, what we want, when we want it, but this is not sustainable. Racking up food miles and a carbon foot print as produce is flown from all around the world. In 2020 the UK imported 46% of the food consumed, the UK produces 50% of the vegetables we consume compared to just 16% of fruit. Source Gov.uk

As the cost of transporting food increases we are likely to see big price rises on imported produce thought-out 2022 and moving into 2023. Keeping the cost down may require us all to get used to limited availability of some of the everyday produce items we are so used to seeing filling the shelf.

Moving to seasonal produce will help everyone enjoy the food we like when the time is right, ensuring it is sustainable for everyone. We may be able to save money by not buying more than we need and having to throw half of it away. In the UK we throw away 9.52 tonnes of food per year and a third of that is imported, we fly it halfway around the world just so we can chuck it in the bin!

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