While Romani communities have traditionally practiced many of the behaviours that are currently being suggested to address the environmental crises, there has been very little acknowledgement of this or investigation into what we can learn from these practices for incorporating into our cultures, governance and economies. This project is novel in its practical and theoretical focus on how Romani knowledge and practices, until now rendered largely invisible from mainstream eco-discourse, might provide lessons and insights into how to live more sustainably without compromising sociability, creativity or cultural pleasure. Romani people are often portrayed as the source of environmental degradation (Dunajeva & Kostka, 2022) and may experience 'environmental racism' (Heidegger and Wiese, 2020). In the midst of this exclusion and stigmatisation, their centuries-old traditions and knowledge on sustainability have been made invisible. The Gypsies Forging Sustainable Futures project draws on oral history and artwork to identify, highlight and amplify these sustainability practices and perspectives. We are a partnership of the Gypsy Media Company; Friends Families and Travellers; Hermandad Gitana de Almeria (Gypsy Brother/Sisterhood of Almeria); Ando Glaso; University of Glasgow; Coventry University and the University of Almeria. We will create a Romani metalwork sculpture and two dance events that represent the sustainability traditions and everyday practices of Roma and Romany Gypsy communities in the three constituent countries - England, Scotland and Spain - with a particular focus on Sussex, Lanarkshire and Almeria. These visual and dance arts will highlight the contribution of Romani peoples to sustainability thinking and practice (e.g. 'circular economy' - recycling, reuse and repair; 'tiny home' living; use of local materials; use of plants and herbs for health and hygiene; focus on community and sharing: and sustainable production techniques, including metalwork). The associated deliberative and artistic processes will be captured in a professional film. Our key research questions are: 1) What are the environmental histories, traditions and values of Romani groups in England, Scotland and Spain?; (2) How can these be represented through traditional Romani visual and dance arts?; (3) How can the environmental knowledge, skills and values of Romani communities be made more visible so as to contribute to current sustainability discourse, policy and programmes?; (4) Which national and local government policies, programmes and discourses support or restrict these sustainability practices? The project will use a mix of data collection and dissemination methods, including a literature review, mapping of Romani sites and history, 'go-along' interviews, reflection groups, and designing and creating dances, sculpture and film. The research questions, methods and dissemination paths have been developed with Romani artists, communities and researchers and reflects their priorities and aspirations. Unique insights can be derived from an 'insider' (i.e. largely Romani) research team and partners. Given that this research is co-produced, we will work with awareness of power and representation in research (Pain et al., 2015) aiming for egalitarian communication and action. We have also worked alongside policy-makers and policy-influencers to design the project, and will engage with them throughout, ensuring that there will be timely and useful inputs into policy and practice e.g. UK Departments for Business, Enterprise and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC); Spain's Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO) and Ministry of Equality (MoE); Women's Environment Network; Green Economy Coalition; Friends of the Earth International. Reference: PAIN, R. et al. (2015) Mapping alternative impact. N8 Research Partnership. Durham/ESRC (see CfS for others).

Our vision is to provide citizens of culturally-diverse disadvantaged communities with choice and agency over the food they consume, by co-developing new products, new supply chains and new policy frameworks that deliver an affordable, attractive, healthy and sustainable diet. Disadvantaged communities are defined as families and individuals who are at risk of food and housing insecurity, often culturally diverse, and whom experience multiple challenges such as financial, mental health and physical health. The proposed programme of research integrates some of the largest food businesses in the country, together with distribution and retail partners that reach into the heart of disadvantaged communities across the UK. Working alongside government departments and civil organisations, the team will develop a resilient, sustainable and adaptable food system for populations from different regions, age groups and socio-cultural backgrounds. At the end of the project the consortium will have developed methods for innovating food products, food supply chains and food/agricultural policies that are inclusive and robust. When implemented at national scale these will deliver the behavioural, health and economic benefits that a food system should provide for citizens, businesses and the environment. A baseline of 22% of people live in food poverty in the UK, often reliant on solutions outside of mainstream food systems, including food banks. This doesn't enable people to plan or chose their diet, or to improve their food security on a long term basis. Previous attempts at transforming the food-health system to become more equitable, sustainable and integrated have had limited impact as they fail to engage disadvantaged communities in the research process and the policy design, leading to a failure to impart knowledge sharing or social innovation. The disconnect between households, communities and national supply and production networks presents one of the greatest challenges to developing a socially just, healthier, and sustainable food system for everyone. This project will identify and implement the innovations and new configurations of the food system that are necessary to deliver improved nutritional public health and wellbeing for citizens from disadvantaged communities with enhanced environmental sustainability. The team will do this using co-design, co-production and participatory methods that enable major food businesses and community owned enterprises to engage with each other, and with the citizens who consume food. In the first part of the project a picture of the national food landscape in disadvantaged communities from across the UK will be built, and the impact of the current food system on environmental sustainability will be analysed. Investigation of current corporate, social and government policy frameworks that guide food and agriculture in the UK and across Europe will be evaluated to highlight positive directions for the future. Together, in phase 2, communities and businesses will co-develop new supply chains, new or reformulated exemplar food products and new policy frameworks. In phase 3, these innovations will be evaluated, adjusted and improved. The impact of scaling these innovations to basket level and national level will be evaluated, quantifying the potential impact of nationwide changes on the environment and health. By the end of the project we will have established effective methods for co-creation of policy, products and supply chains that can be implemented at a national level. As a result, every citizen will have the potential to make decisions about their food, and will have access to a diet that is affordable, attractive, healthy and environmentally sustainable.