Sam Dyer: CEO and Director of Cambridge Sustainable Food

'My vision is for a better, fairer and more sustainable food future.'

Sam is the CEO and Director of Cambridge Sustainable Food, a not-for-profit CIC dedicated to bringing about social and environmental change through sustainable food systems. Sam is chair of Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance and facilitates and mentors the Food Poverty Alliance Network in the Eastern region. 

This year Sam has led on the city-wide emergency food response to the pandemic on behalf of the Food Poverty Alliance, setting up a redistribution centre and eight community food hubs around the city, connecting families with services and resources, and adapting the holiday hunger programme to feed local families in need. 

Sam has worked as the Cambridge City Council’s ( LA21) Sustainability Officer and for Cambridge Co-operative Development. She also ran her own vegan catering businesses, Curly Kale Cafe and Mouth Music for many years. Sam has taken kitchens to climate summits, refugee camps, and social and environmental justice protests.

“Food is linked to and deeply significant to all aspects of our lives and to our life on this planet.  From our cultural heritage to our childhood memories, our identities are bound up with how and what we eat,” says Sam.

“Food Justice is close to my heart – the thought of anyone not having a meal on the table is deeply disturbing, and yet millions go hungry worldwide, and increasingly,  children and adults in Cambridge have gone to bed without food. This is an issue of inequality and fair access and as the effects of climate change are felt more, this inequality will increase. Food insecurity is only one large failed harvest of rice or wheat away, and the risk of this is increasing with climate change. Land use is key to environmental sustainability – the food industry accounts for 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, and it is clear to me that the food system needs to change.

In Cambridge we have a huge opportunity to tackle ill health, food poverty and climate change through our local food system and by doing so connect to those around us. By working across all sectors, be that planning or local business, and by celebrating diversity and community we have an opportunity to build resilience and connection.

I believe that sustainable food systems drive positive change in our communities, and my vision is for a better, fairer and more sustainable food future.”

Food Poverty Alliance create hubs to maintain Cambridge City Council holiday lunch programme

By Mark Taylor. Cambridge Independent. 30 March 2020

Get Involved and Grow a Row to Support the Cambridge Emergency Food Response

Cambridge Sustainable Food are looking for local growers to help support our emergency food programme, by planting extra crops and donating surplus fruit, veg and herbs towards one of the 8 Community Food Hubs that we are coordinating in partnership with Cambridge Food Poverty Alliance throughout the city.

Find out more about how you grow a row  HERE

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Celebrating the courage and resilience of the women of Cambridge

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Cambridge Herstory is an archive and resource of Cambridge Women’s Heritage, celebrating the courage and resilience of the women of Cambridge.

The archive celebrates the contributions of women who have lived, worked and studied in Cambridge throughout the ages: from stories of women in history who changed the city for the better, and often contributed nationally to  stories of women currently living in Cambridge who make massive contributions to improve the lives of their friends, family, neighbours, colleagues, community members and our city every single day.