ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED SPACES: 50

The conditions imposed by COVID-19 have acted as a magnifying glass on our societies and food systems, laying bare existing dysfunctions and inequalities but also sites of resilience. From the early months of the pandemic, we have seen an impressive response on the ground from food producers to retailers, communities and neighbours, who got food to where it was needed in immediate reaction to shock. Against the backdrop of longer-term problems locked into our food system, their adaptations emerge like desire lines – an urban planning phenomenon where collective bottom-up problem solving defies unhelpful structures – toward a resilient, sustainable and fair food system. As we face the task of ‘building back better’ in a new normal, now is the time to reflect and avoid blindly following the well-worn path to a place we don’t want to return to. What can we learn about resilience from the innovation and solidarity of those who hold the food system together amidst the chaos?  

Using examples from across the UK to trace transformation across new behaviour, innovative logistics, material adaptation and fundamental values, this engaging workshop is for actors whose steps formed collective desire lines across the food landscape to learn together and reflect on the legacy of their initiatives.