The Future of Food Chains

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD

FOOD PRODUCTION: RE-SHORING THE UK’S FOOD SUPPLY

Growing more food in this country is going to become more and more critical over the next ten years. This will have to come from a much broader base than currently exists and there is a role for small, medium and large sized food producers working on existing farmland and new and unconventional urban spaces.

However, the city offers a unique blend of opportunities, through a higher density of artisan and speciality markets enabling consumers to go direct to producers, a strong supply of underutilised awkward spaces such as railway arches, higher population densities allowing the trial of new technologies such as automated fulfilment, and large gig economies allowing food operators to outsource and overcome exacerbated labour challenges. Food production, whilst traditionally not considered a key sector within cities is playing a growing role in urban food chains, with over 500 farms in the greater London area. variations in retail networks and store formats, and tight supply chains that must meet urban access restrictions. Feeding our cities is a complex task, owed to higher population densities,

CULTIVATING THE CAPITAL, LONDON ASSEMBLY 2010