people sharing a meal

A Legal Right to Food: Tackling Root Causes of Food Insecurity

ByElta Smith

As a food systems researcher, I’m deeply invested in transforming food and farming practices to work better for everyone. My recent food systems manifesto outlines key priorities—from sustainable farming to healthy food environments. But underlying all of these is a more fundamental need: to ensure access to adequate, nutritious food as a basic right. This…

Close-up of hands planting a seedling

Cultivating Change: Seeds of Food System Transformation

ByElta Smith

Where can we find inspiration for food systems transformation? In recent years, Wales and Scotland have emerged as pioneers in progressive governance and food policy, challenging conventional approaches to wellbeing and sustainability. But why focus on Wales and Scotland? Unburdened by the inertia that often plagues larger countries, they’ve shown a willingness to experiment with…

Polling station - what do the UK parties promises for food and farming

Beyond Party Promises: What the UK Really Needs for Food Policy

ByElta Smith

With an election fast approaching, what are UK parties promising when it comes to food and farming? Perhaps more importantly, what’s missing? The urgency for action is undeniable. Our food systems face unprecedented challenges. Escalating climate and nature crises threaten food production, while the COVID-19 pandemic and global conflicts have exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains…

two people holding a box of vegetables in a field

A food systems manifesto for the next UK government

ByElta Smith

As the UK looks ahead to the next election, food and farming policy has emerged as a critical issue. How we grow, process, distribute, and consume food has far-reaching impacts. Our current food system faces significant challenges, from environmental degradation and climate change to health inequalities and food insecurity. To address these complex and interconnected…

Storm clouds over a soy plantation

Food systems belong at the heart of climate action

ByElta Smith

Last year was the hottest in human history. February of this year continues the trend and was the ninth month in a row that has seen the warmest temperatures on record. Climate change is a global crisis that demands urgent action from the international community. Rising temperatures disrupt agricultural cycles, cause sea-level rise, and intensify…

Bowl of heathy food

Rethinking food policy: Why we need a systems approach

ByElta Smith

Many factors influence our food choices. What’s for dinner depends partly on personal tastes, time, budget, and health goals. But individual decisions and preferences alone don’t determine what’s on our plates, as we are often led to believe. The food system that shapes what we eat operates on much larger scales than personal choice and…

Hands holding a seedling

Beyond the plate: how a food systems approach nourishes people and the planet

ByElta Smith

Food is far more than something to simply satisfy hunger. It is woven into the fabric of human life and planetary health. Food choices shape identity and allow us to connect with family, friends, and culture through shared meals and food rituals. Community practices related to food reinforce social bonds. Agricultural and culinary traditions link…

Microbial Magic? The potential of fermentation in modern food systems

Microbial Magic? The potential of fermentation in modern food systems

ByElta Smith

Fermentation may be just as important as fire when it comes to making food and, by extension, for human development. This ancient way of preserving food made fruits and vegetables last longer and easier to digest, providing early humans with a healthier and more stable food supply.  More than 5,000 fermented foods of plant and…

fermentation at work - fermented sourdough

What role can algae play in our food systems?

ByElta Smith

An algae-based diet was important for early human evolution and the nutrients they contain are critical for our flourishing. Yet algae play a marginal role in modern Western diets. There is major potential for these incredible organisms to contribute towards a healthier, more sustainable, and more equitable global food system. In a recent article, I…

person eating a seaweed salad

The untapped potential of algae to transform our diets

ByElta Smith

Algae just might have superpowers. Packed with nutrients, including high levels of protein, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals, some species are considered a ‘complete’ food. Algae can confer immune support and have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the likelihood of cancer and heart disease, among many other benefits to human health. But that’s not all. Algae…