Much of society has become conditioned to take abundant produce for granted. When food is readily available on shelves, it’s easy to overlook the intricate system of production and logistics that makes this possible.
As we all know, every food product is the culmination of a lengthy, often complex process from farm to shelf, which remains largely invisible to most people outside our industry. This disconnection with food production should be sounding alarm bells. As has been repeatedly shown, public detachment creates vulnerability, and as an industry, we have a responsibility to showcase why food and farming really matter.
In celebration of the steps already undertaken to meet this ambitious objective, Leaf held a reception to mark 18 years of Open Farm Sunday at the House of Lords this week. Since 2006, over 6,000 events have welcomed 3.25 million visitors onto farms, offering a first-hand look at the dedication and innovation that defines modern British farming. It is an important initiative that needs to expand further.
During the reception, I announced our aim to harness the work of the hundreds of farms that open across the UK every June to ‘cultivate connections’ that build trust and educate the public on sustainable farming practices. In 2025, we want to encourage even more farms to open, in order to channel greater public interest and drive meaningful engagement in food production.
While climate change remains the single biggest threat to agriculture, the value of the connections we forge throughout the farm to fork supply chain have never been more fundamental. Recent supply chain challenges have been extensive, from the impact of the global pandemic, to ferocious weather patterns, poor harvests, and extensive flooding. These pressures have exposed the fragility of our food system, while shining a light on the resilience of the people who work within it.
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Open Farm Sunday provides a unique opportunity to share these stories with the public. Data from our 2024 impact report demonstrates just how powerful this connection can be: 95% of visitors said they gained a better understanding of what ‘sustainably produced food’ really means. For many, it is the first time they have seen how modern farming techniques integrate with environmental stewardship.
There is huge potential to forge partnerships throughout the food, farming, and retail sector to work together. Our goal must be to demonstrate the depth of the commitments we have made to transparency and sustainability through schemes such as the Leaf Marque. Adopting a more collaborative approach would not only support farmers, but also help consumers make informed choices about the food they buy, bolstering confidence in supply chains that maintain food availability across the nation.
It has never been more important to provide an opportunity to celebrate the rich and diverse links between communities, food, farming, and nature. Food connects us all and should be regarded as a highly valued asset. Everyone’s involvement in amplifying this message would send a powerful signal that the food industry values the environment and the people behind our food.
It’s time to see Open Farm Sunday as more than a fun family day out. It’s a key strategic moment for us all to build trust in our sector through the farming businesses that sustain it.
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