Local food activity in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain

Recent changes in local food supply systems have attracted substantial research
interest, but little consideration has been paid to exactly where they occur. This
article combines data from three studies to compare local food system
development in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland using a single index of
food relocalisation, thereby exploring the usefulness of the Index across different
social and political contexts. Four diagnostic indicators suggest that local food
systems in the south west of Ireland and Britain are particularly well developed.
The Index itself is a useful tool for making international comparisons, being easy
to replicate and allowing the integration of different data sets. Perhaps its greatest
utility is that it opens up new avenues for further research.