Root and Reason (formerly AFN Network+)

@rootandreason.bsky.social

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Shaping change in the UK food system by cultivating informed, system-wide collaboration. We connect policymakers, businesses, front-line services and community groups- linking evidence & practice to design & implement change that works rootandreason.org.uk

Quick Take: Groundswell Dispatches What it means when the first talk at a regenerative farming festival is about national security....
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
community garden in urban environment
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'.
Image shows what a farm might look like in 2050. Text reads 'UK Food Plan for 2050'.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
have your say on the future of the AFN Network+
Have your say on the future of the AFN Network+
afn co-leads neil ward, stefan kepinski and angelina sanderson bellamy at groundswell
people chatting inside AFN tent
view of crowd
picture of groundswell sign
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/
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
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
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
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
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
AFN Big Tent 2025 Panel Discussion: How has the AFN made a difference to you? Zainab Oyetunde-Usman, PhD (Research Social Scientist at Rothamsted Research ) Dominic Watters (Council Estate speaker & writer and research fellow at the University of Southampton) Saher Hasnain (Y2 AFN Champion & Researcher at the University of Oxford’s India Langley (Y1 AFN Champion & Agri-food Sustainability Analyst at Climate Bonds Initiative)
AFN Big Tent 2025 Panel Discussion: Can UK land solve net zero, self sufficiency and public health? Emily Norton (Chair) (AFN Champion & founder of Farm Foresight Ltd) Ali Morpeth (AFN Champion & Registered Public Health Nutritionist) Professor Lee-Ann Sutherland (Director of the James Hutton Institute’s International Land Use Study Centre) Kate Bannister (Net Zero Project Delivery Manager for the NFU) Tom Lafford (Defra)
Kebab, chips and sliced tomato.
Big tent 2025 11 and 12 March Manchester Keynote Speakers: Riaz Bhunnoo - Director of Global Food Security Programme at UKRI Emma Pinchbeck - Chief Executive, Climate Change Committee Prof Bob Doherty - Dean of the School for Business & Society, University of York
Hands holding a seedling.
Headshots of Emma Pinchbeck, Chief Exec of Climate Change Committee and Prof Bob Doherty, Dean of School of Business and Society at University of York
the future(s) of uk livestock: a stakeholder workshop wednesday 26th february 10am-4pm armstrong building, queen victoria road, newcastle upon tyne
afn network+ survey share your thoughts! The AFN Network+ (UKRI AGri-food for Net Zero Network+) is conducting a survey on the potential of breeding to reduce industry emissions. Your participation will ensure our survey insights reflect real experiences and perspectives in the agriculture and horticulture industry, More info about this at https://www.agrifood4netzero.net https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8110427/AFN-industry-survey
Civil food resilience and UK preparedness for food system shocks Tim Lang Centre for Food Policy City University of London
Panel of four people at the Oxford Farming Conference 2025.