As Black History Month comes to a close, Roots to Work is highlighting the transformative work being carried out by three Black and People of Colour (BPOC) organisations within the UK food and farming system.
Food for Purpose is an initiative dedicated to enhancing health and wellbeing for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic families, particularly faith groups. By translating key health messages into culturally relevant, practical education modules, they share nutritional truths and evidence-based insights. Their mission focuses on supporting BPOC communities and healthcare providers to address nutrition-related diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. Through tailored resources and support, Food for Purpose aims to improve dietary choices and promote healthier lifestyles within these communities. Check out some of their free resources here
Land in Our Names (LION) is a collective working towards racial and land justice in the UK. They focus on addressing inequalities in land access and food security for BPOC communities. LION aims to reconnect BPOC communities with land ownership and food growing, whilst advocating for land justice through reparations. They educate about historical land injustices and provide practical solutions to disrupt systems of power. LION organise towards collective ownership and land stewardship by Black and People of Colour, to heal the colonial-rooted trauma that has separated them and continues to extract from the land. Read their influential Jumping Fences report and download other resources here
The Pathways to Land project, led by Stir to Action, aims to address the systemic barriers faced by BPOC farmers in accessing land in the UK. The initiative explores financial pathways and solutions to secure farmland for BPOC producers. Through forums and engagement with BPOC farmers, funders, and landowners, the project seeks to identify support mechanisms, explore appropriate financial instruments, and develop ownership models that account for culturally-informed land use preferences. Read their report for further details.
By working on land access, financial barriers, and culturally relevant health education, these organisations are addressing the ongoing challenges faced by BPOC communities and higlighting the link between food sovereignty and racial justice. We must keep amplifying and supporting BPOC-led initiatives to achieve a just and inclusice food system for all.
