RAICES DE SOBERANIA

The United Kingdom

Food abundance vs Food poverty

CONTEXT, AIMS & METHODOLOGY

The over-arching research question "What's good in Coventry?" exolores "food abundance" through the application of an agroecological lens on urban foodscapes in the United Kingdom (UK) and elsewhere. The few pockets of resistance that can shed light into the implementation of long-term local actions for food sovereiegnty deserve major support.

- How? Situated experience - Enjoy the city while identifying local food initiatives

- Where? Transect walks - Observe, listen and describe remarkable ‘landscape units'

- Who? Key informants - Collect historical and current insights from local actors

1. Food swamps: a disproportionate availability of unhealthy. highly processed, fast food and low-nutrient foods.

2. Beyond supermarkets, affordable food can be accessed in the city through local shops, low-cost greengrocers, and public martkets.

3. Fast foods often occur in more disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

4. Growing crops in allotments, balconies and home gardens can provide an important source of food to local residents.

5. Foodbanks, often operated by churches and charities, supply free basic provisions and non-perishable food itens to people in need.

6. Vignoles Bridge is a historical single-span cast iron elliptical arch, located in Spon End, exactly where the River Sherbourne flows through Coventry City Centre in a culvert.

7. Public houses have a historical social responsibility under English common law to welcome all travelers willing to pay the price for food, drink, and lodging.

8. The Coventry Retail Market, managed by the City Council, provides affordable fresh food and local business opportunities.

9. The Live and Dye Garden is an urban growing space within the Cathedral, focused on plants used for dyes, inks and medicinal purposes.

10. Coventry University’s Edible Garden is located on campus and is open for all to share the space to plant, grow and pick vegetables, herbs and fruit.

11. The Pod Cafe is a unique award-winning social restaurant supported by the City Council and largely funded by the Integrated Care Systen (ICS), offering low cost healthy meals to the general public. Food resources are partially produced on the Food Union community garden, located at the Sherbourne Valley Allotments.