FREE Event: The need for local organic food production | Dr Miesbeth Knottenbelt

Miesbeth works for Nourish Scotland which has been working on food policy and practice for nearly ten years. The objective being to encourage a food system that is fairer, healthier and more sustainable, which truly values nature and people.

Local organic food production has widespread benefits for our health, nature, climate and the local economy. This talk will explain why this is the case, what challenges stand in the way, and what we can do to address these issues.

Nourish Scotland

Nourish Scotland works with a number of Non Governmental Organisation coalitions, the food and drink industry, farmers/fishers, scientists and government (national, regional and city) towards solving the big food-system challenges that include food poverty, diet-related disease, food waste, animal welfare and exploitation of food workers, loss of biodiversity, and climate change.

We help people to do things better and learn from each other.  We encourage and promote new ideas and the people who make them work. We also do evidence-based advocacy informed by the experiences of those at the sharp edge of current food-system problems.

A couple of recent high-profile projects were convening the Farming for 1.5°C Inquiry on how Scottish agriculture can best contribute to the climate targets and launching the report A Good Food Nation for Scotland - Why and How as part of our work to influence the Scottish Government's discussion of the Good Food Nation Bill as went through Parliament.

Miesbeth's main work within Nourish is currently around the ways in which we can grow the Scottish organic food sector and she works with communities to introduce dignity principles and the Right to Food.