Local action is crucial for making better use of land, particularly in terms of multifunctional, regenerative farmland. The ‘Local Authorities Making Farmland Work for the Public Good’ handbook is packed with ideas, tools, and field-based examples, to inspire and enable many authorities to take action across Europe to protect farmland and make it work for the public good.
A new handbook by the Access to Land Network was launched at a recent seminar in Brussels. It is called ‘Local Authorities Making Farmland Work for the Public Good’ and was developed as part of the RURALIZATION project, which receives funding from the EU.
Shared Assets, who are a national partner of Sustain’s Fringe Farming project, contributed to the handbook. There is also a case study of local Fringe Farming partner, Glasgow Community Food Network, which feeds into the findings of the handbook.
In a Shared Assets post, the Access to Land Network explained that:
“Local action is key to a regenerative future. Land and the access to farm land is an important element for building healthy local communities - one that often has been overseen in the past by political decision makers. But land can be used for actively shaping policy – and to strengthen local economies.
"The present handbook is inviting Local Authorities to imagine the different role they may take one with regards to land - no matter if they are land owners or not.
"Packed with ideas, tools, and field-based examples, this 100% numeric resource is easy to navigate and well-illustrated. It hopes to inspire and enable many authorities to take action across Europe to protect farmland and make it work to for the public good.
"This handbook is a resource that is free of charge, for online consultation. Eventual adjustments can easily be made and it may evolve over time."
Published Wednesday 12 April 2023
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
