Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Our members come from all parts of the agri-food system, from large organisations and small, from academia, industry, policy and civil society, and from all kinds of backgrounds. This inclusivity is essential. By making sure that our work is informed by a diverse range of perspectives, we can be more confident that our recommendations have a better chance of success and will meet the needs of the whole sector.
As such Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are principles key to our core aims in fostering an environment with equitable opportunities for influencing decision-making in the agri-food system.
We embed inclusivity across the network, including:
- EDI training for Network team members
- Diverse voices on our Big Tent panel sessions
- Webinars celebrating Black History Month
- Travel bursaries to ensure that everyone is financially able to attend our in-person events
Find out more here about the activities we have run and have planned for the remainder of the project.
Lessons from the AFN Network+
In December 2025 the AFN Network+ produced a report into the project’s progress in relation to EDI. It covered the successes, the setbacks and practical lessons learned and was intended to offer insights for other projects looking to build fairer, more effective collaborations.
Download the report
From intent to impact: Reflections and recommendations for EDI across the agri-food sector
Big Tent interviews reflecting on equity, diversity and inclusion
A series of interviews, recorded at our Big Tent event in 2025, considering the impact of the AFN Network+.
Launch of Culture Roots Collective
Culture Roots Collective, a BPOC (Black and People of Colour) hub to celebrate, inform and engage people in UK food, farming and agriculture, is now live. The hub was developed by partners including the AFN Network+, Sustain and Eating Better.
The Gathering Table: A summit on racial justice in food and farming
This was a truly transformative event about diversity and inclusion across the food landscape. It was an opportunity to tune in, and learn of the experience of many different people and how we all interact within the food system and have a place in making a kinder, fairer world for everyone.
Seeding Fair Food, Climate, and Community Resilience
In celebration of Black History Month, the AFN Network+ hosted a virtual event exploring the intersection of food justice, climate resilience, and cultural sustainability.
Diversity in decision making
Navaratnam Patheeban gave an insightful presentation at our 2024 Big Tent event on the importance of diversity in decision making
The ‘undeserving poor’
This briefing is based on a webinar given by Dominic Watters, also known as Single Dad SW, a single dad living in poverty and food and fuel insecurity in London. He and his daughter live in the most deprived block of their council estate and survive off free school meals, Universal Credit and pay-as-you-go gas and electricity meters.
Thoughts on Black History Month
Inclusivity lies at the heart of the AFN Network+. We want to ensure everyone feels welcome and valued, and we actively pursue diversity within our membership. During Black History Month, we want to raise awareness of the experience of those of black heritage within the agri-food system. In this blog post, co-lead Angelina Sanderson-Bellamy shares her experience and the need to include a wide range of voices at the table.
Additional funding for AFN’s EDI work
The AFN Network+ team has recently been awarded a grant from BBSRC to drive forward best practices on EDI within research networks. The project is called Elevate: Elevating marginalised voices through EDI codesign.
Celebrating Black British Farming
The Black Farmers Market was created as a restorative space in celebration of the cultural and historical communal atmosphere of Brixton.
