The Food Data Collaboration is a groundbreaking initiative designed to revolutionise agroecological food systems. We create digital infrastructure that fosters collaboration through open data standards so that agroecological food systems can scale.

What problem are we solving?

Short, relational food supply networks are essential for a fair, sustainable, and resilient food system. Their inherent diversity is what makes them resilient, however this diversity makes scaling difficult and contributes to higher costs.

A major barrier to this is the wide range of data systems in use – Shopify, WooCommerce, EPOS, emailed spreadsheets, Open Food Network, Ooooby, and more. These fragmented platforms make it challenging to improve sales and distribution logistics, limiting efficiency and market access for small producers and retailers. We believe deep collaboration is the key to scaling diversity.

How are we doing it?

The Food Data Collaboration is demonstrating that open data standards are the critical missing infrastructure needed to enable deep sector collaboration. By building on the groundwork laid by a similar project in France, we have identified, researched, and begun prototyping data interoperability for the core business practices that drive agroecological food supply networks: discovery, product inventory, ordering, and distribution.

Our technology for core agroecological business processes allow the diverse software platforms currently used across the sector to integrate and interoperate. This will enable:

• Sector Cohesion: Thousands of agroecological producers and shopfronts can collaborate without changing their existing software.
• Seamless Collaboration: Improved coordination between producers, distributors, and retailers by allowing systems to communicate effectively.
• Efficient Operations: Streamlined processes for ordering, inventory management, and distribution logistics, reducing duplication of effort and minimising errors.
• Novel Innovation: Unlocking opportunities to create new solutions and technologies that were previously impossible due to the fragmentation of data.
• Market Expansion: Easier access for agroecological producers and retailers to larger markets by enabling cross-selling and collaboration
• Resilient Food Networks: Stronger, more interconnected agroecological systems that can adapt to changing conditions and scale sustainably.
• A Shared Data Commons: Transparent sector sector to support research, inform policy, and drive the development of critical physical infrastructure such as regional distribution hubs, storage facilities, and processing centres.

This interoperability paves the way for deep sector collaboration, bridging the missing middle in the food system and driving transformative change.

Alongside digital interoperability, the Food Data Collaboration is pioneering a commons governance approach to ensure this infrastructure is movement-led and movement-owned.

Values

The Food Data Collaboration is deeply rooted in the movements to build food sovereignty and agroecology in the UK, reflected in our core values:

• Mainstreaming agroecology
• Diversity at scale
• Nourishing food & fair work for all

The journey so far

Who are we?

Since inception this project has been steered by an advisory group of sector experts:

• Rachel Jones – Sustain
• Peter Samsom – Landworkers Alliance
• Martin Bragg – Shillingford Organics
• Julia Kirby-Smith – Better Food Traders
• Pete Russell – Ooooby
• Lynne Davis – Open Food Network
• Anthony Davidson – Big Barn CIC
• Bob Mehew – Apricot Centre

Our thanks also go to former representatives Tony Little (LWA), Natasha Soares (Better Food Traders) and James Woodward (Sustain) for their valuable contributions before moving on to pastures news.

Partners & Collaborators

This project relies on input and collaboration with organisations across this sector. We’re greatful to our partners and collaborators for their guidance and wisdom.