Food brings us together. It connects people, communities and landscapes. Through our Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network (ABCAN), we’re exploring how a stronger local food system can support wellbeing, reduce climate impacts and keep more value in our communities.

Why local food matters

A resilient food system is about more than what’s on our plates. It’s about:

• supporting local growers, producers and businesses

• making healthy, affordable food more accessible

• reducing food miles and waste

• building skills and knowledge in our communities

By working together we can create a fairer, more sustainable food future for Argyll and Bute.

Sustainable food events

Over the past year Brenna and Kate from our ABCAN team have hosted Food for Thought events across Argyll and Bute, bringing people together to share ideas, experiences and practical ways to strengthen our local food system.

They’ve held in-person events in Oban, Cowal, Mull, Helensburgh and Tarbert, alongside online sessions including an Exploring Local Food Hubs and Exploring Land Justice webinars. Each event created space for open, thoughtful discussion around access to land and food, local supply chains, and what a fairer and more resilient food system could look like for our communities.

A big thank you to everyone who took the time to join a session, share their experiences and contribute to the conversations. Your ideas and insights are helping shape the next steps.

We’re now pulling together learning and reflections from all of these conversations. Please check back soon to explore the full set of Food for Thought reports, recordings, blogs and resources as they’re added to this page.

If you’d like to stay involved, you can also join the Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network (ABCAN) Mighty Network to connect with others, share ideas and keep the conversation going.

Watch the webinar: Exploring Local Food Hubs

In this webinar we hear from Mandy Ketchin of Food Lochaber, Gail Emo from Galloway Food Hub and Jill Bowis from Oban Food Hub. They share insights from running a regional food hub, the opportunities, the challenges, and the practicalities of serving rural areas.

Food for Thought event reports

Looking for more insights from previous discussions? You can explore the findings from our Oban, Lorn and the Isles and the Cowal and Bute Food for Thought events, and read our event blog:

• Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Isles Food for Thought report pdf
• Helensburgh and Lomond Food for Thought report pdf 
• Mull and Iona Food for Thought report pdf
• Oban, Lorn and the Isles Food for Thought report pdf
• Cowal and Bute Food for Thought report pdf
• Food for Thought: Growing ideas across Argyll and Bute blog

Get involved

This work is part of a wider ABCAN project, supported by funding from the Scottish Government. The ideas and priorities gathered will feed into the ongoing development of a Sustainable Food Partnership for Argyll and Bute, ensuring community voices remain at the heart of decision-making. 

We’d love for you to be part of the conversation. You can:

• come along to an event near you

• share your food stories, ideas and questions with our ABCAN Engagement Officers; Kate Shaw: [email protected] and Brenna Anderson: [email protected]  

• connect with others and find inspiration through the ABCAN Mighty Network

Join the conversation