About the Food Futures Project

All the food we eat comes from the food system. This system is complex and has a lot of different stakeholders from farmers to retailers to consumers and more. The food system is so big that it’s often invisible to us; we get a glimpse every now and then, but usually only when something goes wrong. Our most recent experience of this involved empty supermarket shelves as a result of panic buying staple items such as longlife milk, pasta and rice during the pandemic.

This independent study of the food system is being conducted through Net Zero Lab, a co-research and co-creation lab. The study aims to investigate how different people within the food system see and experience that system. Everyone has a different and unique perspective, so capturing as many of these as possible gives us a better ‘view’ of the system. The research we are conducting is with you, we will work together to co-research and co-create a view of the system. In order to maintain safe social distancing we have developed a process for safe participation that we call a ‘workshop-in-a-box’. Participating in the ‘workshop-in-a-box’ can be done in your workplace or home either alone, with your colleagues/household or (if permitted in your location) with a small group of extended family or friends. Each box is a self-contained kit that includes a guidebook of instructions, boards, pens and sticky notes.

Net Zero Lab will compile the ‘workshop-in-a-box’ responses into a report about the food system. This report will be distributed through our website, as well as via community and local government channels. Insights may also be discussed in academic publications. This research is being conducted in line with the National Statement on Human Research Ethics.

Net Zero Lab

Food Futures

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