Rows of cabbages ready for picking. Copyright: GordonBellPhotography | istock

Uncover the legacies of Empire on our food system

We welcomed Corinne Fowler, author of Green and Unpleasant Land and Naomi Terry, author of Jumping Fences to our webinar, Unearthing Empire: food, land and colonial legacies in the UK. Watch the fascinating conversation here. 

Rows of cabbages ready for picking. Copyright: GordonBellPhotography | istockVideoRows of cabbages ready for picking. Copyright: GordonBellPhotography | istock

During the hour, we examined how Empire shaped what we eat, grow and value today. Corinne Fowler highlighted links between colonial wealth, enclosure, and the countryside’s racialised history, while Naomi Terry shared research from Jumping Fences on the experiences of global majority farmers. Themes included rural racism, structural barriers to land access, and the need for reparative justice through land redistribution, health equity and education. The session emphasised reconnecting communities with land, valuing traditional knowledge, and creating inclusive spaces for food growing as a pathway to healing, justice, and a fairer food system.

The webinar was brought to you by Culture Roots Collective, Roots to Work and Eating Better. More webinars coming this autumn.

Sign up for the Roots to Work newsletter or follow us @rootswork for updates. 

Further reading 

Jumping fences 

Green Unpleasant Land

Rural racism report

Our Island stories 

Sankofa report 


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.

Sustain
The Green House
244-254 Cambridge Heath Road
London E2 9DA

020 3559 6777
sustain@sustainweb.org

Sustain advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, promote equity and enrich society and culture.

© Sustain 2025
Registered charity (no. 1018643)
Data privacy & cookies
Icons by Icons8

Sustain