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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The govt watchdog recently gave its verdict on our national readiness for potential disruption to our food system.A sober assessment: UK food system has coped remarkably well with recent shocks,but there are growing doubts about its ability to withstand more severe disruptions👉 tinyurl.com/59btm2ze

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

📰Our July Newsletter.....👉Save the date for our September webinar: 'From Resilience to Justice - what would it take to transform the food system?' with Professor Molly Anderson, Catch up on our latest digests + the usual round-up of events, reports &opportunities in #agrifood👉tinyurl.com/4hmca8s2

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Andy Burnham became PM last week promising “good growth in every postcode”. What does is it mean for UK food and farming? Read our thoughts here 👉 tinyurl.com/nwjkppnu

Digest
'Good growth in every postcode': What a Burnham premiership could mean for UK food transformation

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

With huge thanks to speaker Rob Hopkins for a really inspiring talk and lots of questions answered - you can now watch the recording of our latest webinar 'Falling in Love with the Future - imagination as a tool for resilience' 👉 tinyurl.com/4nmv8ura

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Read our quick take from #Groundswell26 - Security, trust, and why, ten years in, there’s real reason for hope 👉tinyurl.com/cmtsuf9z

Quick Take: Groundswell Dispatches
What it means when the first talk at a regenerative farming festival is about national security....

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

We’re running 2 sessions tomorrow at #Groundswell2026! Come find us at Stand C28: 🕒 1pm: Measuring what matters (aligning farm reality & supply-chain data) 🕒 3pm: Community Power from Farm to Fork (food justice & local systems) More details here👉 tinyurl.com/yejzahpm

Join us on Wednesday at Groundswell 2026!
In C28 - the Root and Reason tent

1pm - Measuring what matters: Aligning farm reality with supply-chain needs
Chair: Tom MacMillan
Speakers: Stephen Briggs, Star Molteno, Ben Williams

3pm - Community Power from Farm to Fork: Advancing Food Justice & Equitable Food Access
Chair: Fergus Lyon
Speakers: Hannah Gibbs, Katherine Langton, Martin Chadwick

Measuring what matters: Aligning farm reality with supply-chain needs
1pm - Weds 1st July in the Root and Reason tent (C28)

This session explores how data has become an important interface between farmers and food businesses in regenerative agriculture, and why, when it’s poorly aligned, it can create burden rather than value.

Chair: Tom MacMillan
Speakers:
Stephen Briggs, (Farmer and Head of Technical Development at
Innovation for Agriculture)
Star Molteno (Sustainable Land Use, Farming & Forestry
Specialist at Eunomia Research & Consulting)
Ben Williams (Sustainability Manager at Leprino foods)

Community Power from Farm to Fork: Advancing Food Justice & Equitable Food Access
3pm - Weds 1st July in the Root and Reason tent (C28)

This session explores how communities and growers can build alliances to transform local food systems, ensuring dignified, equitable access to nutritious, culturally relevant food. It highlights regenerative approaches that strengthen grower livelihoods, improve demand predictability, and increase citizen choice.

Chair: Fergus Lyon (Professor of Enterprise and Organisations at Middlesex University)

Speakers:
Hannah Gibbs (Sustain – The Alliance for Better Food and Farming; Bridging the Gap programme Manager)
Katherine Langton (Langton’s Farm)
Martin Chadwick (FoodSEqual Project, University of Reading)

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Heading to #Groundswell2026 on 1-2 July? Come find us at tent C28! 🌾We’re hosting 5 crucial sessions covering data-driven supply chains, food justice, grassland sustainability, and a food system resilience workshop. Find out more 👉 tinyurl.com/yejzahpm.

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

Denmark is leading agri-environmental reform with its new Green Tripartite Agreement.By integrating a CO2 tax, nitrogen regulation, & a just transition, it aligns farming with climate goals—with just a 1% expected food price rise.Is it a blueprint or is Denmark going it alone?👉 tinyurl.com/yvbrk82s

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

📢 Sign up for our May webinar: 'From Plans to Practice: Building Community Food Resilience in Bristol' 📅 Thursday 14th May 2026, 12-1pm Join us 👉 tinyurl.com/55sy3rf3

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

The AFN Network+ has become Root and Reason, the food resilience collective. We are refocusing our work as an independent, non-profit initiative shaping change in the UK food system through informed, system-wide collaboration. Find out more 👉 www.rootandreason.org.uk

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

The AFN Network + is evolving. Stand by for an exciting announcement next Tuesday about our next steps – we can’t wait to bring you with us!

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Taking citizens and communities along with policy changes isn't enough. Actively involving them from the beginning is emerging as one of the most powerful drivers of food systems change. New digest explores the evidence 👉 tinyurl.com/ms6h85ak

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Poor diets cost the UK in health, productivity & quality of life - change is a win–win. Read our latest digest on what our Roadmap for Resilience report says about how we can make healthier diets easier for everyone. 👉 tinyurl.com/37z979x4 #AFNRoadmap

an illustration of a high street in 2050, including shops selling fresh produce, healthy eating environments and plant based food. Text reads 'A UK Food Plan for 2050'.

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Stronger, more resilient farming - that's one of the three core transformations set out in our Roadmap for Resilience report, published last week. For more on the vision for farming, the co-benefits and the priority actions, read our digest👉 tinyurl.com/mf2zrjby #AFNRoadmap

Image shows what a farm might look like in 2050. Text reads 'UK Food Plan for 2050'.

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

6/ The report calls for decisive and coordinated action, and proposes 10 key recommendations, with a timeline up to 2050. These include: - Placing food security on a par with energy security - Creating a National Food System Transformation Committee - Reform ag subsidies

The title of the image is Proactive planning and coordinated action. The image shows a vision for how land, diet and farming could be transformed by 2050. The infographic shows what we have in 2025 - short term thinking, departmental silos, growing pressure and missed connections, and how these need to be replaced by a 25 year pathway, coordinated governance, resilient communities and virtuous cycles.

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

5/ Healthier diets: Healthy and sustainable eating will be easy, accessible and desirable.

The title of the images is Healthier diets made easier. The image shows a vision for transforming diets in the UK from 2025 where unhealthy is the default, there is health inequality, and an overreliance on meat. To 2050 where healthy food is accessible, choices are balanced and there is food security. The image shows a town scene where people are shopping in a super market, as well as from a market, buying healthy fruit and veg.

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

4/ Smarter land use: UK landscapes will provide multiple benefits through integrated management – sequestering carbon, producing food, enhancing biodiversity and building climate resilience.

The title of the image is “Smarter, more integrated land use”. The image shows a vision for transforming the land from 2025 where there is single purpose land use, minimal tree cover and degraded peatlands, to 2050 where there are multifunctional landscapes, ecosystem services, expanded woodlands. The image depicts a landscape with farming and livestock more integrated, peatlands restored, rich biodiversity and walkers on a hill.

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

3/ The Roadmap for Resilience report identifies three core transformations: More resilient farming, adapting in a way that supports farmers and rural economies, and builds national resilience.

The title of the image is Stronger, more resilient farming. The image shows a vision for transforming farming from 2025 where there is specialist farming, high emissions and the sector is vulnerable to shock, to 2050 where there is more mixed diverse farming, low carbon tech and the system is more resilient. The image depicts a future farm with mixed farm systems, low carbon tech, livestock mixed with crops and horticulture being grown.

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

1/ How should the UK respond to mounting pressure from climate change, health problems, and global instability? Our Roadmap for Resilience report calls for rapid and urgent action on food, at a scale not seen since WW2. Full report: tinyurl.com/369s6wuy #UKFoodPlan2050 #AFNRoadmap

The title of the image is A national opportunity for positive transformational change. The image shows a vision for how land, diet and farming could be transformed by 2050, with farming which is more mixed, low carbon tech and more resilient, land where farming and livestock are more integrated, peatlands restored and landscapes are being used for multiple purposes. And diets where people are shopping and fruit and green veg is more accessible. Text on the image shows that if these three transformations can be achieved, then they will result in benefits including billions saved in healthcare, strengthened national resilience, healthy food, improved water quality, new rural jobs and enhanced biodiversity.

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

🥸Check out our latest round-up, which includes a host of events, not least our forthcoming webinar, a new slurry prediction tool (who doesn’t need one of those?) and more on the launch of Culture Roots Collective tinyurl.com/yc6w8fzz

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 12/08/2025

👉WEBINAR: De-risking the farming transition – what can we do? Our Autumn webinars kick off with this important session: Farming businesses face many barriers when trying to change practices; one of them is risk. How can risk be reduced so they can move forward with confidence? tinyurl.com/5n9xevfj

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

VIDEO UPDATE: If you missed our fascinating webinar on whether weight-loss jabs help or hinder a sustainable dietary shift, the video is available now 📽️https://tinyurl.com/2p9txz4c🎬

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

🎉 We’ve just hit 3,000 members! 🎂 Thank you to every single person who’s joined our network, shared ideas, made connections, and helped build something special. We’re proud of the community we’re creating together. And if you haven't joined up yet, visit www.agrifood4netzero.net/join-us/

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

👋Have you had chance to complete our survey yet? We want to understand what our members value most about our Network so that we can shape our future structure and approach in a way that works for you. It takes less than 10 minutes 👉tinyurl.com/25tcbyhu Thankyou!

have your say on the future of the AFN Network+

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

As our UKRI funding ends we need to explore sustainable ways to continue supporting our vibrant community - Member input will directly shape our future structure & approach so we'd really appreciate if you could take <10 minutes to complete our survey?👉 tinyurl.com/3u9kpwe2 🙏

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Thanks to everyone who who visited our tent at #Groundswell2025. Whether you stopped for a chat or joined one of our sessions, it was fantastic to see so many of you, and a special thanks to our brilliant speakers!

afn co-leads neil ward, stefan kepinski and angelina sanderson bellamy at groundswell

audience still on haybales and listen to a discussion at the afn network tent

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Day 2 at #Groundswell25 with 2 fab sessions already under our belt and 2 more to look forward to: 💹 De-risking the transition – collective insurance and green financing 2-3pm 💷 Salary sacrifice – a tool to support sustainable farming? More details here 👉tinyurl.com/2jnadcm5

Full timetable of AFN sessions at Groundswell - Details can be found here: tinyurl.com/2jnadcm5

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

👋Have you got a spare 10 minutes to take our survey? Funding for our Network ends later this year & we’re exploring new ways to continue. We want to hear your views on what you value most about us and what you’d like to see from us in the future 👉tinyurl.com/25tcbyhu

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

#Groundswell25 What a day! A full (to bursting!) house for Professor Tim Lang, an excellent Alternative Proteins session & a lovely tea break. Lots more to come tomorrow starting at 9am with 🗳️How do we get voters to care about food systems transformation?☑️ tinyurl.com/2jnadcm5

How do we get voters to care about food system transformation? Thursday 3rd July 9am hosted by : AFN Network Champions Ali Morpeth, Emily Norton, Zainab Oyetunde-Usman, Ifeyinwa Kanu, Elta Smith

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

👋We're super excited to be at #Groundswell25 with a full programme of panel discussions, talks and opportunities to chat - Please come and see us at C26 in the pasture field 🐄 Full programme here 👉 tinyurl.com/2jnadcm5

picture of AFN flag outside tent at Groundswell

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

👋 We're delighted to be hosting a tent at #Groundswell25! Please come and find us at C26 in the pasture field 🐄We've got a variety of sessions going on across both days with a great diversity of speakers. Find our up-to-date session timings here👉tinyurl.com/2jnadcm5

This image shows the session timetable for the AFN at Groundswell - you can view the full details of this on our website here: www.agrifood4netzero.net/events/groundswell/

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

📢 We can't wait for #groundswell25 next week & one of the sessions we're really excited about is this one led by our AFN Champions 👉🗳️ How do we get voters to care about food systems transformation? ☑️ Join us 3rd July at 9am, C26 in the Pasture Field 🐄 Full session details 👉tinyurl.com/2jnadcm5

Groundswell
How do we get voters to care about food systems transformation?
Thursday 3rd July 9am
Hosted by: AFN Network+ Champions
Ali Morpeth, Emily Norton, Zainab Oyetunde-Usman, Ifeyinwa Kanu, Elta Smith

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

🚨Last chance to sign up for our 2pm webinar tomorrow: Animal welfare, net zero & the food transition: trade-offs & opportunities. We will delve into ethical & practical questions about animal welfare when transitioning the food system & reducing emissions👉 tinyurl.com/nh4tpjku

Animal welfare, net zero & the food transition - trade offs and opportunities
Gareth Arnott, Queen's University Belfast
Francesca Johansen, Teagasc
Friday 23 May 14:00 BST

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

What might a food system transition mean for the animals in the farmed system? What opportunities might there be to enhance welfare? &what too might be traded off in a transition, & would these be morally or practically acceptable?Lots to discuss at our next webinar🗓️ 23/05 2pm 👉tinyurl.com/nh4tpjku

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Animal welfare, net zero & the food transition: trade-offs & opportunities 🗓️Friday 23/5 at 2pm Next weeks webinar will be delving into the ethical &practical questions raised about animal welfare, when transitioning the food system &reducing emissions👉 tinyurl.com/nh4tpjku

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Our 2025 Board for #EarlyCareerResearchers (ECRs) has been appointed & started work. With a wide range of interests &expertise from across the #agrifood system our ECRs will meet &discuss important network issues working closely with our Champions. Find out more ➡ tinyurl.com/bdd8k8eu

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

What does the Carbon Budget really mean for farming, UK diets & land based sectors? Will farmers really be better off pursuing #netzero? How did the Climate Change Committee come to conclusions & recommendations? What gaps in knowledge & data did it face that we can help plug? tinyurl.com/376esc32

CCC answers your questions on net zero, farming, diets and land

Indra Thillainathan & Sandra Bogelein of the UK Climate Change Committee

Monday 7th April, 14:00 BST

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

💡5/5 SFF Project 👉 Community Supported Agriculture Network UK, working in partnership with the Organic Growers Alliance, will produce resources on “Crop planning for uncertain times” & “Infrastructure for uncertain times” for small-scale agroecological market gardeners 👉 tinyurl.com/2vrs82js

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

💡4/5 Third Stakeholder FlexFund project 👉Emergent Generation will bring together a diverse range of young people aged 18 to 35 (the Emergent Generation) to attend a one-day net-zero workshop 👉 tinyurl.com/388yha53

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

💡3/5 Second Stakeholder FlexFund project 👉Joy of Food will conduct three Food Conversations in Norwich using the toolkit produced by the Farming, Food and Countryside Commission 👉 tinyurl.com/32zx5jcy

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

💡2/5 First Stakeholder FlexFund project to share👉 Pasture For Life will deliver six in-person and six online farmer-farmer knowledge exchange events for the farming community across Wales 👉 tinyurl.com/35zswvjv 👨‍🌾👩‍🌾

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

💷1/5 We're delighted to announce that our last round of Stakeholder FlexFund projects have been awarded! We’ll share details of each project over the next few days & you can find out more about all of the projects we've funded to date here👉 tinyurl.com/2p2svsw8

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

In a joint webinar with @ffc-commission.bsky.social, our speakers shared insights from their latest research, which followed concerns raised by citizens in #TheFoodConversation – and explain why questions of power and profit need to rise up the political agenda. tinyurl.com/b6ww3hw

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

🎪& now it's over to our delegates in the 'Unconference' part of our #AFNBigTent - Topics proposed include: engaging farmers, elephants in the room, precision breeding/genetics, seafood's role in #netzero , exciting planet friendly diets, conservation agriculture & lots more!

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

🎪Amazing to have Emma Pinchbeck (Chief Executive of the Climate Change Committee) speaking for us at #AFNBigTent about the CCC's remit and the 7th carbon Budget

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Really interesting to see how Networks can help make a difference to #agrifood research and practice. Big thanks to our fab panel for sharing their insights & to our #AFNBigTent attendees for joining in the conversation 🙏

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Kicking off day 2 of #AFNBigTent with a thought provoking panel 👉Can UK land solve net zero, self-sufficiency and public health? Some great insights from our fab panel expertly chaired by AFN Champion @emilymnorton.bsky.social

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

🎪#AFNBigTent A well deserved drink at the end of Day 1 & an opportunity to look at some of the posters our fantastic #ECRs & funded projects have created👉tinyurl.com/uvwv2wx7

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

A just transition should result in a society where everyone shares in the benefits of climate action. What are the steps we need to take to achieve such a transition? 🎪Our panel talk this afternoon is doing a great job of trying to address this #AFNBigTent

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Root and Reason @rootandreason.bsky.social · 11/03/2025

Great to hear some really interesting conversations and opinions about our Roadmap work at the #AFNBigTent 🎪Lots to think about as we progress this set of proposed pathways that we're developing for how UK agri-food could be transformed for a net zero UK tinyurl.com/369s6wu

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