The Vegetarian Society invests in Kindling Farm

The way in which we produce and consume food is, in our opinion, one of the most pressing issues faced by humanity, given its role as a primary driver of climate change, biodiversity loss and poor human health. And for the past 175 years, the Vegetarian Society has been at the forefront of the debate. As a charity with thousands of vegetarian and vegan members across the UK and overseas, we campaign for a better food system, one which does not require animal slaughter, which is environmentally sustainable and provides everyone with access to great-tasting nutritious food.

Traditionally, our investments have been made on the stock market, and within clear ethical boundaries (including no financing of fossil fuel or meat industries). As with most charities, we seek to use any investments as a means of providing security, providing a buffer against economic downturns, while also providing funds for further organisational growth and investment.

However, recently our Board of Trustees have been considering whether investments in community-focused schemes, which align with our own aims may provide an alternative alongside our more traditional investment. Following a presentation from the team at Ethex, we quickly signed up to the platform and started looking for a suitable investment. And in short order along came the Kindling Farm proposition. Not only is it based not far from our own headquarters but as a locally owned community farm specialising in fruit and vegetables for a local box scheme, it could not have been more aligned. Indeed, we used to have Kindling Farm food boxes delivered to our office in Altrincham and I’d previously spoken briefly to one of the scheme founders and social entrepreneur Chris Walsh at a food sustainability conference held in Manchester. Clearly, synchronicity was at work.

With a vision of engaging local communities in food production, a strong teaching outreach element and a vision of equitable, healthy food for all – it aligns perfectly with our own values and mission.

Grassroots organisations like the proposal at Kindling Farm will be vital for our future food system. Shorter UK-based supply lines and a focus on organically farmed local varieties of fruit and vegetable will provide more food with better nutrient profiles, farmed with rather than against nature. Critically, local schemes provide for a more resilient food system able to withstand shocks to supply through weather or large-scale geo-political events, such as the war in Ukraine.

For this reason, we are delighted to make an investment into Kindling Farm and encourage others to do the same!