Reading University and the Netherlands’ Wageningen University will collaborate with community, industry, public and voluntary organisations to encourage them away from grant funding and towards self-sufficiency
The EU-funded ‘Cities on the Grow’ project, which is being undertaken by Reading University, is inviting Reading-based food businesses and their customers to take part in the study which focusses on businesses traditionally dependent on grant funding with a view to making them self-sufficient.
Commenting on the project,Dr Richard Nunes, of the School of Real Estate and Planning at Reading University said: “Many community food businesses exist on a grant funded business model which isn’t necessarily sustainable.
“Our study seeks to support them in their transition toward more commercially viable business practices, whilst securing their social and climate benefits.
“This important project will not be possible without engaging multiple audiences, including academic, policy and business communities and of course consumers.
“We hope the local community engages with the project and its aims to make Reading’s local food economy more sustainable.”
Results of the study, backed by local MP and Reading City Council, will lead to a series of workshops and focus groups in both the UK and Netherlands, with a view to publishing a final report in the spring of 2015.
Visit www.citiesonthegrow.org for more details.
Image courtesy of Thinkstock
