It's difficult to evaluate impact when we're part of a dynamic ecosystem of organisations working together in shared mission and purpose. Nonetheless we see real impact from our work in these examples of how we influence narratives, shape policy and build movements for change.
Click on the boxes to the right/below to see how we do this through aligning leadership, providing evidence and amplifying voices of change.
We seek to step into contested spaces and take on sticky, difficult challenges. We value experimentation and so we test and pilot ideas and bring together people who would otherwise be unlikely to meet. We aim to influence public debate and ensure policymakers and politicians hear from a wide range of voices who care about the future of food, farming and countryside.
The Food Conversation was designed to provide evidence of a growing movement to change the food system. Through a gold standard engagement process, we hosted deliberative conversations to uncover what citizens really wanted from food. The project was designed to engage politicians throughout. They joined our deliberations, attended events and meetings, and cited our findings in parliamentary debate across all four nations. Our evidence contributed in a significant shift towards government intervention on food - resulting in new policy announcements from governments, new food strategies in England and Northern Ireland, and a growing momentum around food in all four nations.
“a properly powerful demonstration of good public engagement … that government departments could and should be doing for themselves.”
Jon Alexander, author of ‘Citizens
Much celebrated when launched in 2020, Farming for Change continues to influence thinking in the sector including in key reports like the National Food Strategy. It provides critical evidence that farming to support nature, climate and health can also answer concerns about food security. The impact of the report has enabled FFCC to continue its work to align leaders and influence policy discussions.
"#FarmingforChange injects valuable data into the debate” Prof Tim Lang
We first suggested the idea of a Land Use Framework in Our Future in the Land. Since, we have built a broad alliance around the concept of a multifunctional, land-led, transparent and inclusive Land Use Framework, and tested the mechanisms to make it work. This work influenced the House of Lords report, the Royal Society’s Living Landscape report, the Glover Review and the Geospatial Commission’s report - all of which were instrumental in building momentum. Our pilot projects in Devon and Cambridgeshire have helped central and local government decision makers to understand how a Land Use Framework could work in practice. We have also convened leaders across all four nations of the UK to share learning and build alliances.
"The best example of a Land Use Framework has been created by the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission.” Henry Dimbleby
