Feeding the Nation
Feeding the Nation: Seasonal Migrant Workers and Food Security during COVID-19 Pandemic is a collaboration between the University of Leeds and COMPAS funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of the UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to COVID-19.
The project examines the everyday experiences of seasonal agricultural migrant workers and farmers throughout harvest seasons 2020 and 2021. Using remote qualitative interviews and data analysis, findings will support policy interventions from our policy impact partner – the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – and other stakeholders for which we will prepare monthly reports including comparative international analysis. Furthermore, we have co-produced, with our charity impact partner New Europeans, information materials adapted to the needs of seasonal migrants. These resources can be accessed here. To engage with wider audiences, we have created a web-based interactive monitor and a virtual exhibition in collaboration with the Museum of English Rural Life.
The project has 6 key objectives:
- to provide information in real time on worker recruitment and retention in order to support evidence-based rapid interventions and mitigate risks for UK the food supply;
- to provide information to limit contagion on farms;
- to document the experiences of seasonal workers and farmers;
- to inform decisions on the post-Brexit immigration system in light of possible future pandemics;
- conceptually, to contribute to theories about the high demand for migrant labour in periods of high unemployment and (6)
- contribute to debates on the contributions of low skilled migrants as key workers.
