Food and farming
Food is what connects human society and economy with the natural world and so getting this right is key to the Biosphere's mission to be a learning space for sustainable development.
Following the principles of agroecology as defined by the UN's Food and Agriuclture Organisation, the Biosphere has run a series of projects that have been about undrestanding and developing the local food economy. Through this work it is building a community of farmers, growers and local organisations who are working together to find new ways forward. Past projects are listed below.
We also work with food businesses using the Blas Dyfi Taste accreditation scheme.
Tyfu Dyfi - Growing the local food economy
This project, funded jointly by Powys and Ceredigion Shared Prosperity Funds, ran in 2023-2024. It was a partnership pf ecodyfi with Aber Food Surplus and Criw Compostio, as well as farmers and growers and supported the production and distribution of food, especially vegetables. Read more
Tyfu Dyfi - Food, nature and well-being
Running in 2021-2023 and funded by the Welsh Government Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being (ENRaW) programme, this poject was about increasing the number of growing sites for food, nature and well-being. All activities related to sustainability, establishing growing sites, involving the local community, and supporting the development of short supply chains. It was a collaboration between ecodyfi, Garden Organic, Mach Maethlon, Penparcau Community Forum, Aber Food Surplus, the Centre for Alternative Technology, and Aberystwyth University.
Mixed Farming - Histories and futures
This project, which was a partnership between ecodyfi, Environment Systems Ltd, Aberystwyth University and the National Library of Wales in 2019-2020, studied the history of land use in the area. It showed how crops, including cereals, were once more widely grown and can still have a place on the small family farms that are the cornerstone of the Welsh rural economy and landscape. Read more