Welcome to Building Better Futures: Food, Community, and Beyond – a portfolio that brings together a diverse collection of blogs and books dedicated to shaping resilient communities and thriving local economies through the lens of food and farming.

This area of work is a vital part of my broader professional journey, reflecting a commitment to practical solutions, thoughtful analysis, and transformative ideas.

Within this collection, you’ll find a wide range of resources – many of which are available as downloadable PDFs at each link, making it easy to access and share insights.

A number of the books are also available for purchase as Kindle editions on Amazon, offering flexible ways to engage with the material.

Central to this portfolio is my belief that food sits at the very heart of future communities and local economies. This vision is explored within the works listed here, with each section delving into how food systems, sustainable agriculture, and collaborative local action can empower individuals and strengthen society.

From foundational essays on the importance of farming, through analyses of current challenges and policy barriers, to practical blueprints for resilient food systems, these resources invite you to reimagine what’s possible for our shared future.

Please explore the links below to discover actionable ideas, innovative models, and a vision for building better futures – starting with food, and reaching far beyond.

1. Foundations: The Importance of Food and Farming

Introduction:
This section lays the groundwork for understanding why food and farming are central to the wellbeing of communities and nations. These pieces highlight the fundamental role of agriculture and the urgent need to recognise and support those who produce our food.

• Food is the foundation of our future and farming is the foundation of our food
  Overview: Explores how food and farming underpin society’s health, stability, and resilience.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/02/29/food-is-the-foundation-of-our-future-and-farming-is-the-foundation-of-our-food/
• The role of British farmers has been neglected at our peril – sadly the politicians won’t see it until it’s too late so it’s the farmers who will have to begin the localised food supply chain revolution instead
  Overview: Highlights the lack of political support for British farmers and the need for farmer-led reform.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2022/12/14/the-role-of-british-farmers-has-been-neglected-at-our-peril-sadly-the-politicians-wont-see-it-until-its-too-late-so-its-the-farmers-who-will-have-to-begin-the-localised-f/
• The key stakeholders in UK food production are the farmers and consumers
  Overview: Emphasizes the importance of direct engagement between producers and consumers.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/02/21/the-key-stakeholders-in-uk-food-production-are-the-farmers-and-consumers/
• Sustainable agriculture is part of the pathway to UK food security, but it won’t work well for anyone until it works for everyone in the same way
  Overview: Argues for inclusive sustainability that benefits all participants in the food system.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/01/08/sustainable-agriculture-is-part-of-the-pathway-to-uk-food-security-but-it-wont-work-well-for-anyone-until-it-works-for-everyone-in-the-same-way/

Having established the essential role of food and farming in society, the next section delves into the pressing challenges and threats facing the UK’s food system today.

These entries reveal why urgent attention and action are needed to safeguard our agricultural foundations.

2. Current Challenges: Crisis, Policy, and Threats

Introduction:
This section examines the mounting pressures and systemic issues threatening UK food security. The entries here analyse the causes and consequences of the current crisis, urging immediate action to prevent further decline.

• The growing UK food crisis
  Overview: Details the escalating problems in UK food supply and the risks to national food security.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2023/10/04/the-growing-uk-food-crisis/
• The growing UK food problem
  Overview: Examines the root causes and consequences of the UK’s food system challenges.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/10/23/the-growing-uk-food-problem/
• The threat to UK farming, our food security and food production – either deliberate intent or outright stupidity is destroying our own ability to feed and support British people
  Overview: Critiques policy failures and external pressures undermining UK farming and food security.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/10/31/the-threat-to-uk-farming-our-food-security-and-food-production-either-deliberate-intent-or-outright-stupidity-is-destroying-our-own-ability-to-feed-and-support-british-people/
• It’s not just British beef at stake – the future of UK food production and our food security is on a knife edge
  Overview: Warns of the broader implications of current crises for all UK food production.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2023/12/05/its-not-just-british-beef-at-stake-the-future-of-u-k-food-production-and-our-food-security-is-on-a-knife-edge/
• The inevitable collapse of UK farming and food security
  Overview: Predicts the consequences of inaction and systemic neglect in UK agriculture.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/12/09/the-inevitable-collapse-of-uk-farming-and-food-security/

Understanding the scope of the crisis leads naturally to an exploration of the political and economic barriers that hinder progress.

The following pieces critique the policies and market forces that shape – and often obstruct – efforts to build a resilient food system.

3. Political and Economic Barriers

Introduction:
This section explores the political and economic obstacles that hinder progress in food and farming. The entries critique current policies and highlight the need for a shift toward self-sufficiency and local resilience.

• UK self-sufficiency and localisation of food supply chains from British farms should now be the government priority, not vanity-led trade deals that undermine them
  Overview: Calls for policy shifts towards self-sufficiency and local food systems.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2021/05/20/uk-self-sufficiency-and-localisation-of-food-supply-chains-from-british-farms-should-now-be-the-government-priority-not-vanity-led-trade-deals-that-undermine-them/
• Universal basic income won’t genuinely help anyone, least of all our farmers
  Overview: Critically assesses the impact of universal basic income on farming communities.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/04/06/universal-basic-income-wont-genuinely-help-anyone-least-of-all-our-farmers/
• Farm inheritance tax was always about wrecking independent UK food production – that’s why it defies common sense
  Overview: Explores how inheritance tax policies threaten independent food production.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2025/08/14/farm-inheritance-tax-was-always-about-wrecking-independent-uk-food-production-thats-why-it-defies-common-sense/
• Will farmers, advocates, membership representatives and activists make inheritance tax the hill that the future of UK food security dies on?
  Overview: Questions whether inheritance tax will become a decisive issue for UK food security.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/11/18/will-farmers-advocates-membership-representatives-and-activists-make-inheritance-tax-the-hill-that-the-future-of-u-k-food-security-dies-on/

With the obstacles clearly outlined, attention turns to how farmers and their allies are responding.

This section examines the spectrum of advocacy and activism, highlighting both the risks and the opportunities for constructive change.

4. Farmer Responses: Advocacy, Militancy, and New Directions

Introduction:
This section discusses how farmers and their supporters are responding to challenges. It encourages constructive, peaceful approaches and warns against divisive or counterproductive activism.

• Farmers are right to be frightened and frustrated, but militancy will only make things worse – and it’s time for those outside of the establishment to consider new directions
  Overview: Encourages constructive, non-militant approaches to reform.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2025/03/14/farmers-are-right-to-be-frightened-and-frustrated-but-militancy-will-only-make-things-worse-and-its-time-for-those-outside-of-the-establishment-to-consider-new-directions/
• The last thing we need is a farmers’ revolt, but the UK does need a farmer-led food chain revolution ASAP
  Overview: Advocates for a peaceful, farmer-driven transformation of the food system.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/11/16/the-last-thing-we-need-is-a-farmers-revolt-but-the-u-k-does-need-a-farmer-led-food-chain-revolution-asap/
• Dear farmers, please don’t mess with the law of unintended consequences on Tuesday when a well organised march in London will be enough to show how miffed you are
  Overview: Warns against unintended consequences of activism, urging strategic action.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/11/15/dear-farmers-please-dont-mess-with-the-law-of-unintended-consequences-on-tuesday-when-a-well-organised-march-in-london-will-be-enough-to-show-how-miffed-you-are/
• No farmers, no food may be a wasted opportunity for UK farming in its current form, but personal attacks on those leading it are no better than any one of us shooting at our own hand
  Overview: Reflects on the effectiveness and pitfalls of current advocacy campaigns.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/02/25/no-farmers-no-food-may-be-a-wasted-opportunity-for-uk-farming-in-its-current-form-but-personal-attacks-on-those-leading-it-are-no-better-than-any-one-of-us-shooting-at-our-own-hand/
• Why ‘No Farmers, No Food’ won’t help but could certainly cause UK farmers and food security a lot more harm instead
  Overview: Critiques popular slogans and their unintended negative impacts.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/02/20/why-no-farmers-no-food-wont-help-but-could-certainly-cause-uk-farmers-and-food-security-a-lot-more-harm-instead/
• Populism will not save farming, but practicality can and will
  Overview: Argues for practical solutions over populist rhetoric.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/02/01/populism-will-not-save-farming-but-practicality-can-and-will/

Moving beyond reaction, the next section focuses on solutions. Here, collaboration and local action take centre stage, offering practical pathways to strengthen food security and empower communities.

5. Building Solutions: Collaboration and Localisation

Introduction:
This section presents constructive approaches for improving food security and farming. It emphasizes collaboration, local action, and practical steps to build a resilient food system.

• The need for a collaborative approach to the UK farming and food security problem
  Overview: Stresses the importance of collaboration among stakeholders for lasting change.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2025/01/18/the-need-for-a-collaborative-approach-to-the-uk-farming-and-food-security-problem/
• Food from farms guaranteed – full text
  Overview: Presents a vision for guaranteed food supply from local farms.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2025/03/14/food-from-farms-guaranteed-full-text/
• Home growing is essential to achieving food security and the aim of the UK becoming self-sufficient in food production – the grassroots manifesto
  Overview: Advocates for home growing as a pillar of national food security.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2023/05/04/home-growing-is-essential-to-achieving-food-security-and-the-aim-of-the-uk-becoming-self-sufficient-in-food-production-the-grassroots-manifesto/
• Eat better to make eating better much easier
  Overview: Offers practical advice for improving diets and supporting better food systems.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2023/10/06/eat-better-to-make-eating-better-much-easier/
• I’m a fan of Clarkson’s Farm – it’s doing a lot for farmers and consumers, but it could do even better
  Overview: Highlights positive media influence and suggests further improvements.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/05/15/im-a-fan-of-clarksons-farm-its-doing-a-lot-for-farmers-and-consumers-but-it-could-do-even-better/

As collaborative efforts gain momentum, the conversation expands to consider new models for local economic governance. These entries introduce innovative mechanisms – such as barter and exchange – that can underpin a more resilient and equitable food system.

6. Economic Systems: Local Governance and Exchange

Introduction:
This section introduces new models for local economic governance, focusing on food as a central pillar. It explores alternative mechanisms like barter and exchange, and proposes frameworks for economies that prioritize collective wellbeing.

• The local economy governance system – online text
  Overview: Introduces a new model for local economic governance with food at its core.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2025/11/21/the-local-economy-governance-system-online-text/
• The role of barter and exchange in the local economy governance system
  Overview: Explores alternative economic mechanisms for local resilience.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2025/12/03/the-role-of-barter-and-exchange-in-the-local-economy-governance-system/
• An economy for the common good – full text
  Overview: Proposes a framework for an economy that prioritises collective wellbeing.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2025/02/24/an-economy-for-the-common-good-full-text/

Finally, the collection concludes by examining the deeper questions of control and power within food systems.

This last section analyses who holds influence, how policy shapes outcomes, and what it will take to build trustworthy, future-proof food systems for all.

7. Control, Power, and the Future

Introduction:
This section concludes the collection by examining who holds power in food systems and what that means for the future. These entries analyse policy, strategy, and the blueprint for building trustworthy, resilient food systems.

• Who controls our food controls our future – full text
  Overview: Examines the power dynamics in food systems and their impact on society’s future.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/11/14/who-controls-our-food-controls-our-future-full-text/
• Understanding who controls our food controls our future – everything you need to know
  Overview: Provides a comprehensive overview of food system control and its implications.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2025/11/23/understanding-who-controls-our-food-controls-our-future-everything-you-need-to-know/
• The organisations involved in food policy today are all about the interests of those organisations
  Overview: Critiques the self-interest of organisations shaping food policy.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2024/02/21/the-organisations-involved-in-food-policy-today-are-all-about-the-interests-of-those-organisations/
• The real implications of the UK’s food strategy 2025
  Overview: Analyses the UK’s food strategy and its long-term effects.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2025/07/23/the-real-implications-of-the-uks-food-strategy-2025/
• Foods we can trust: a blueprint for food security and community resilience in the UK – online text
  Overview: Presents a blueprint for trustworthy food systems and resilient communities.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2025/12/15/foods-we-can-trust-a-blueprint-for-food-security-and-community-resilience-in-the-uk-online-text/
• Understanding foods we can trust: a blueprint for food security and community resilience in the UK
  Overview: Explains the principles and practicalities of building trusted food systems.
  https://adamtugwell.blog/2025/12/15/understanding-foods-we-can-trust-a-blueprint-for-food-security-and-community-resilience-in-the-uk/

Let’s Continue the Conversation

Thank you for taking the time to explore Building Better Futures: Food, Community, and Beyond.

If the ideas, resources, or practical solutions here have sparked your interest, I would be delighted to hear from you. Whether you have questions, wish to discuss any of the topics in more depth, or are interested in collaborating, please feel free to get in touch.

I am always happy to share insights, exchange perspectives, and support your work. If you’re organizing an event or discussion where these themes are relevant, I welcome invitations to speak and contribute.

Let’s build better futures together – starting with food, and reaching far beyond.