Food is much more than what we eat. It shapes our lives – our health and well-being, our culture, our natural environment, our security and prosperity. Food is a true measure of our approach to life itself, as individuals and as a society, and our new food report examines this.
Many of us do not eat a healthy diet and have lost sight of where food comes from and how it is produced. The food system is heavily dependent on cheap oil and plentiful freshwater, and is a major contributor to climate change. The expanding population and competing pressures for land will only make these problems worse.
At the National Trust, we are passionate about good food – it is integral to our past, present and future. The full story of food from plot to plate is intimately represented in the places in our care, inspiring the millions of people who visit every year.
We are involved in the whole food chain, with 200,000 hectares of farmland, over 150 restaurants and tea-rooms, and historic kitchen gardens, orchards and mills. These inspire millions of people each year to think and learn about food. Our food report: 'Appetite for change' shares the experience of our gardeners, chefs, tenant farmers and volunteers in making the food we produce and serve more sustainable.
We are making progress but there is much more we can do. To signal our intent, we have committed to creating 1,000 new growing spaces for local communities on National Trust land by 2012. We are firmly committed to playing our part in moving towards a more sustainable society. However, even with greater government leadership, it will take a huge collective effort to renew our food culture and values.
This includes placing a greater value on good quality, traceable food;rewarding sustainable production and fair trade; and giving everyone access to a healthy and sustainable diet, regardless of their income or background.
Consumers, businesses, scientists and policy-makers are increasingly questioning where our food is from and how it has been produced.This has stimulated some welcome progress towards sustainable food, but it has remained a minority concern and has yet to attract a coherent and progressive approach from governments. However, recent concerns about food security provide an opportunity to make sustainable food a mainstream national and global priority.
This report shares the journey the Trust has been on for the last decade to make the food we grow and serve more enjoyable, more sustainable for people and the environment, and better connected to the places we look after. We’ve been inspired and helped by others and we’re keen to work in partnership with those who share our appetite for change.
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