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Happy New Year - 2022

Draft - 13 January - this is a mock-up e-news sent to our COG members and northern pathfinders - any feedback welcome?

Many thanks to everyone who helped us develop the Urban Agriculture Consortium’s dynamic networks in 2021. We look forward to more collaboration and progress in 2022.

Is 2022 the year for an urban agroecology breakthrough? Maybe: there is growing awareness of the climate and biodiversity emegencies which is driving an interest in the potential for regenerative agroecology as a part of the solution. Lots of powerful initiatives highlighted at the ever fabulous Oxford Real Farming Conference. Although UAC is a very small part of the wider movement we hope our contribution is helping us all gain momemtum and traction.

UAC’s plans for 2022 include

  • further support for the northern pathfinder cities and

  • farmstart networks (with the LWA),

  • a slow expansion into the midlands,

  • contunuing to develop partnerships in Northern Ireand, Scotland and Wales,

  • more PINGs (policy infleuncers network meetings)

  • support on planning issues, and work on land mapping for food growing and much more.

  • We’ll be sending out regualr enews bulletins, so please do share with your partners and colleagues.

  • Do let us know if you would like to be added or removed from our email list

People and Projects:

Dr Simon Ruston - planning advisor to the Urban Agriculture Consortium/ Green Future Associates
Helping UAC projects and local authorities with strategic planning guidance to unlock the policies that are needed to promote food growing, especially for commercial growing – and how the planning system can encourage making more land available.

A few upcoming events:

17 January - Northern Ireland PING meeting focusing on land mapping - with Social Farms and Gardens

19 January - UAC Core Oversight Group

25 Jan - Community wealth building through food and farming (Sustain event) https://www.sustainweb.org/webinars/dec21-using-food-to-build-community-wealth/

8 February: UAC and land mappers group

2 March - PING #3 - to include an update from FFCC. Agenda tbc

16 March - UAC Core Oversight Group

27 April - PING #4 Agenda tbc

1 June – WING #2 Wider Interest Group and impact report

Latest info on our website https://www.urbanagriculture.org.uk/