Embassy News & Events
30 June 2008
"Food for London" : Embassy Cultivates Growing Business of Urban Farming
 Tony Leach (left, London Parks and Green Spaces Forum) chatting with American artist/writer Fritz Haeg, whose recent book, "Edible Estates: Attack on the Front Lawn," describes turning barren lawns into food-bearing gardens. (Embassy photo by S-J Mayhew)
They went to the U.S. to learn more about agriculture in America's cities, and now they're back and helping London boost its own farming capacity. Four Britons traveled on an Embassy-sponsored small grant last year, and this year they organized a conference at City Hall focusing on agriculture policies in London.
Farming in London? Well, the city is home to more than 400 farmers, and has the potential to help feed the millions of visitors to the 2012 Olympics.
Some 200 people attended the "Food for London" conference on June 30, which attracted even Mayor Boris Johnson. Mayor Johnson bolstered the spirit of the event, saying, "I want you to know that I support you."
Urban agriculture promotes the growing of plants and animals within city limits to provide local, organic food supplies in an era of high oil prices and rising food costs.
"Food for London" was sponsored as part of the London Festival of Architecture and was hosted by Sustain, a non-governmental organization focused on healthy food and agricultural policies.
The four members of the British team (photo) that visited the U.S.: Colin Buttery (Royal Parks, London); Tony Leach (London Parks and Green Spaces Forum); Catherine Miller (Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens) and Ben Reynolds (London Food Link Project/Sustain).
The group has compiled their research into a 42-page report, which can be found at http://www.sustainweb.org/page.php?id=432 .
For more information about the U.S. Embassy's Cultural Affairs Small Grants Program, please visit http://london.usembassy.gov/ukpa_cultural_grants.html .
The conference was held at City Hall. The chair of the event, Kath Dalmeny from Sustain, is seen here presenting.
(Embassy photo by S-J Mayhew) |
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Embassy News & Events
