Farm Lab (360G-Wellcome-202746_Z_16_Z)

Farm Lab is an inner city ‘Living Lab’ in the form of a pop up urban farm that involves local residents, growers, scientists, engineers and technologists, initially in Manchester. Prototyping the future of urban farming, participants work together to address food security challenges that impact on health, locally. Together they will learn and exchange skills across the boundaries of biomedical and environmental science, engineering, technology, farming and design. This innovative approach combines a range of expertises, amateur and professional, and will pilot, test and refine the Farm Lab model to set up as a social enterprise for community benefit. Further, this pilot will act as a catalyst to engage local residents to participate in Manchester’s Climate Action Plan for 2016-20 and imagine and work towards a climate-adapted city in 2050. Farm Lab will also act as a regional hub and ambassador for Wellcome Trust’s Food and Drink initiative, The Crunch, which it has already informed and been influenced by through conversations with the Wellcome Trust Engaging Science team and science policy team during Erinma Ochu’s Wellcome Trust Engagement Fellowship. Participants and visitors will be curious, engage in debate, act as ambassadors and get inspired to create resources and take action.