Most food policy is written in offices. But real food systems live on farms. In this video from my Food Policy Series, I explore why meaningful food systems transformation must begin by listening to small farmers, bioregional food cultures, and local food economies. Standing on a small farm in Italy, this conversation reflects on a simple truth: much of the public investment in food systems still flows toward documents, strategies and consultation processes, while the lived knowledge of farmers and regional food systems remains under-recognised.
If we want resilient food systems, we must begin to rebalance this, amplifying the voices, practices and ecological knowledge that already sustain communities. This perspective informs my work through Living Earth College and the course: Activating Local Food Systems https://livingearthcollege.org/enrolment-courses/activating-food-systems
In the course we explore how practical initiatives: food hubs, seed libraries, compost systems and local distribution networks, can generate the living knowledge needed to inform better food policy. Food policy should not only be written about life. It should be created with life. food policy local food systems regenerative agriculture small farmers community food systems bioregional food systems food system transformation foundational economics regenerative food policy local food economies
