The Landworkers’ Alliance is a union of farmers, growers, foresters and land-based workers.

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Please contact Lauren.Simpson@landworkersalliance.org.uk

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We are currently not recruiting for any roles but please read our newsletters for any announcements. We currently do not offer any volunteer or internship placements directly with the LWA, but keep an eye out in the newsletter or on the forum for any members looking for volunteers or workers.

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Please look at the Agroecology Research Collaboration to see if it fits your area of research/work.

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Currently the LWA does not have capacity or resources to help individual members or potential members on their specific projects, farms or programmes. We get a lot of requests for individual support and would love to have the time to respond to each request in full. We are fundraising for a new role for somebody to focus on membership support and services as we have identified it is a gap in our offering so please watch this space. Having said that, if your query is critical and urgent please email info@landworkersalliance.org.uk including the word URGENT in the subject header and it will get picked up and we can try our best to help.

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Please take the time to explore our staff page here to see who the most relevant contact for your enquiry is.

Our addresses format is firstname.lastname@landworkersalliance.org.uk

Please bear in mind we all work part time and have limited capacity to respond to enquiries outside our core areas of work.

You can also find information under the About Us header about branch and regional organising, and identity groups within the LWA membership.

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For any queries relating to press please email press@landworkersalliance.org.uk

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For any enquiries to do with shop sales including the calendar please email merchandise@landworkersalliance.org.uk

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All Other Enquiries:

For any other enquiries that are URGENT please email info@landworkersalliance.org.uk with the word ‘urgent’ in the subject header and we will do our best to help.

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Farming, Food and Climate Justice March

(2019)

What was it all about?

On October 5th 2019 in London the Landworkers’ Alliance mobilised for a Farming, Food and Climate Justice March. The march brought together a diverse range of people and organisations to make a strong political point that the crises of farming, food and climate are integrally linked. They come from the same roots and can not be solved without joined up policy solutions.

The march was preceded by a day of movement building workshops on both climate and food and farming issues at the Barge House, South Bank on the 4th of October.

Why were we marching?

We were marching to demand immediate and comprehensive solutions to the multiple crises we are facing in our farming, food and climate. The current systems are not working for people or the planet. We have the solutions and will not wait any longer for them to be heard.

Across our diverse communities people are experiencing problems that are rooted in the governance of farming, food and climate change. From farm closures because prices are undermined by cheap imports and supermarket power, to a food system that is driving climate chaos and destroying the environment; to extreme poverty and hunger caused by austerity; to the politics of the hostile environment that are destroying lives.

These issues are interconnected and approaches that fail to address these situations for everyone are not real solutions. We reject policies that blame those most affected whilst protecting the wealth and power of the elites and corporations that are causing the damage. We were therefore marching for an immediate transition to a food and farming system with justice at its core, that works for people, the environment and the climate.

Through sequestering carbon in soils, localising supply chains and promoting biodiversity, a better food system can protect our climate as well as producing the nourishing food we all need.

What were we marching for?

Farming

1. Agroecology – We want farming that protects our soils, the climate, wildlife and biodiversity.. No to factory farms, chemicals and pesticides that destroy the environment and drive climate change.
2. Local food and economies – Reorganise production to support local economies and reduce reliance on imports .
3. Fair livelihoods and fair prices – We want fair prices for farmers and fair pay for everyone working in farming so that people can make a decent living producing good food, while also keeping food affordable.
4. More farmers’, better food – We want more farmers, foresters and people working on the land. We want better education about ecology and more understanding of production issues. Robots, GMOs and techno-fixes do not solve the real problems, but reinforce the status quo.

Food

1. End hunger – We want everyone to have access to healthy, appropriate, affordable food -no matter what their income or background, so that no-one is going hungry.
2. Affordability – The ‘market’ is failing – we have to regulate the multinationals and supermarkets so that farmers can get fair prices and all people can access healthy affordable food.
3. A fair food system – Our food system should not be damaging to workers, the environment, or animal’s welfare here or anywhere around the world, and our trade policy should reflect that.
4. A safe food system – We want safe healthy food to be the standard. We want to put an end to dietary related ill health of all kinds.

Climate and Environment

1. Net zero emissions – We must reduce UK carbon emissions to net zero by 2030 to keep warming below 1.5°C. The climate emergency demands systematic and urgent action now, above and beyond what the market can manage.
2. Social justice at the core of transition – This transition to net zero emissions must recognise structural inequalities and power differences within society and between countries. The costs should be carried by those with the wealth and privilege to afford it, and not disproportionately affect people already marginalised.
3. The ‘market’ is not the solution – We already have the knowledge and wealth to make the transition- we need governments to regulate and inform so that communities can support solutions.
4. Sustainable food and farming – Our food and farming system accounts for around 30% of UK emissions. Industrial agriculture is also eroding soils, polluting water systems, and driving mass extinction of wildlife, including insects and pollinators crucial to agricultural systems. However, our land use system can and should be sequestering carbon and enhancing biodiversity. Food, farming and climate policies must be joined up and with a clear goal of food sovereignty and climate justice.

Additional Resources

Food, Farming and Climate Change: How we can feed people and cool the planet (LWA, 2019)