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Food, Farming and Rural Relationships with the Land

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Rural Social Work in the UK

Part of the book series: Rethinking Rural ((RR))

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Abstract

Over the past fifty years agriculture, land use and food systems have dramatically altered on a global scale. Industrial scale agricultural systems have intensified and mechanised farming, driving people out of rural jobs and altering the landscape of the countryside for people and nature. Artificial fertilisers and market demands for bigger, better and faster food have caused a reduction in the nutritional content in our meat and vegetables and there has consequently been catastrophic impact on the climate, rural communities and our relationship with the food we eat.

The food we eat impacts on our physical and mental health as does the opportunity to spend time in green spaces and have time in nature. These issues and the impact that they will continue to have into the future will be the subject of this chapter. Engaging social work practitioners in environmental and agricultural issues will give them the opportunity to advocate for better systems and creative solutions. Dealing with issues such as food poverty and the stigma around this in rural communities and putting perspectives of green social work into practice, maybe part of the answer to a brighter future.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of the West of Scotland, Dumfries, UK

    Tina Laurie

Authors
  1. Tina Laurie
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Correspondence to Tina Laurie .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Shiskine, Isle of Arran, UK

    Colin Turbett

  2. C139 Bowland North, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster, Lancashire, UK

    Jane Pye

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Laurie, T. (2024). Food, Farming and Rural Relationships with the Land. In: Turbett, C., Pye, J. (eds) Rural Social Work in the UK . Rethinking Rural. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52440-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52440-0_6

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-52439-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-52440-0

  • eBook Packages: Social Sciences

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