This blog is written by Annie Page.
Encountering empty shelves in supermarkets is an unwelcome event we have all experienced in recent times, but for those already in food poverty, the impact of these shortages is compounded. Whether due to Covid, Brexit, economic turmoil or climate change, the increasing cost and unreliability of food supplies leads us to question the security and resilience of current farming and food supply systems and to ask ourselves here in Gloucestershire – how able are we to feed ourselves?
It is estimated that 3.2 million tonnes (7.2% of harvested food) is wasted or surplus from primary food production in the UK every year. (//www.wrap.ngo/resources/report/food-waste-primary-production-uk). This is mainly unavoidable and the result of multiple factors such as systematic overproduction, cosmetic standards, order cancellations, weather conditions, harvesting capacity and so on. Butthis food can be saved from waste – harvested/collected by volunteers and then redistributed to those in need – using the ancient tradition of gleaning. Despite being a largely agricultural county, we do not yet in Gloucestershire have a gleaning network to do this work, as exists in other parts of the country (https://gleaning.feedbackglobal.org/).
Introducing Gloucestershire Gleaning
‘Enabling communities and food producers in Gloucestershire to work together to distribute surplus. Reviving our connections and improving our resilience.’
A pilot project this year (jointly funded by Feeding Gloucestershire and Feeding Britain) is exploring sources of food surplus on farms, food producers and distributers in Gloucestershire and looking at the feasibility of gleaning this produce and redirecting it via local community hubs that provide free or ‘pay-what-you-can’ food in cafes and pantries.
The geographical focus for the pilot is the Stroud District to build on pre-existing relationships and gleaning activity that has been developed over the last 18 months by NoSH (Network of Stroud Hubs). By starting in Stroud, we are making the most of existing knowledge and momentum which will further the potential impact of this project and make the funding go further. While gleaning is typically of fruit and vegetables out in the fields, the pilot is also looking at other sources of protein that have low commercial value (eg pullet eggs, dairy and meat offcuts). There will also be time to take learning from other gleaning projects such as in Avon, Cornwall and Suffolk and to plan a measured and realistic growth of Gloucestershire Gleaning to other areas of the county and hopefully attract future funding. By the end of the project, Gloucestershire Gleaning will have been launched and tested, with a webpage, databases of farms, gleaners and recipients, the required health and safety protocols and insurance, first aid training and procedures – ready to take it to the next stage of implementation.
As well as the core aims of zero waste, reduced food miles, improved food resilience and feeding hungry mouths, gleaning itself has numerous complementary benefits – building connections and understanding between farms/food producers and communities, mental, physical and social benefits for gleaners working together in our beautiful countryside as well as potential commercial benefits for farms/producers and employment opportunities for gleaners – all of which are being explored as part of the project.
It is worth noting that the community hubs in Stroud, which have so far relied heavily on supermarket surplus via national schemes such as Fareshare and Neighbourly, are noticing reduced food donations from these sources – all the more reason to glean good quality, unprocessed surplus food that is right on our doorstep.
If you would like more information or be part of this project please contact projectmanager@feedinggloucestershire.org.uk
