Food producers and businesses in the agricultural sector are being urged to take part in a survey to ensure that the people who grow our food are valued and supported so that we can work with nature to address the climate crisis.
The Energy Democracy Project in conjunction with the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) want to hear the views from people across the region about the future of agriculture in the North of Tyne. Their Supporting a Sustainable Future for Agriculture survey can help inform the NTCA’s work on the agricultural transition to net zero.
Leading the project is Dr Helen Coulson, Just Transition Project Coordinator at the Energy Democracy Project. She said: “Food is vital for our health and wellbeing – and we all have a stake in how we produce healthy, accessible, and affordable food. That is why it is more important than ever to open a space up for those working in farming and food production to tell us what they are experiencing, what their challenges and ambitions are, and how a transition might affect their employment. By getting a comprehensive view of people working in agriculture in the North of Tyne will help to ensure our work will be evidence-based and decision makers locally are aware of what their needs are as a result of climate change. The survey is open to everyone who lives in the region, not just those working in farming and agriculture, so we encourage anyone with an interest in how their food is produced to fill out the survey, have their say and ensure their voice is heard.”
The survey, which is open until 28 February, can be found at bit.ly/3iAWoHi. Everyone who completes the survey will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win one of five £30 gift cards. For more information about the project, please contact the team at helen.coulson@northoftyne-ca.gov.uk and ben@energydemocracyproject.com