Food Data Collaboration
The Food Data Collaboration project is building on the work of the Data Food Consortium in France, aiming to create a data interoperability infrastructure that empowers local producers to list and sell their produce across multiple platforms seamlessly. Together we are working to nurture diversity at scale, fostering collaboration over competition to support farmer-focussed, community-led food systems.
Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and fiscally hosted by the Open Food Network UK between March 2022 and June 2025, OFN UK and fellow technical partners (including the likes of Big Barn, Cambridge Organics, Hodmedod’s and Ooooby) are aiming to make good, sustainable and affordable food a possibility for all through collaboration of digital platforms in the community food sector.
A dedicated governance circle focused on developing a commons-based approach brings together representatives from key sector organisations, agroecological food producers, and technical partners, including:
- Martyn Bragg – Shillingford Organics
- Duncan Catchpole – Cambridge Organic
- Anthony Davidson – Big Barn CIC
- Lynne Davis – Open Food Network
- Rachel Jones – Sustain
- Bob Mehew – The Apricot Centre
- Pete Russell – Ooooby
- Peter Samsom – Landworkers’ Alliance
If we are ambitious for local and short food supply systems – if we want to feed tens of millions of people through them – then this project is a strategic necessity.
Software pilots began in 2024 to trail interoperability between Open Food Network and Shopify and have so far involved Hodmedod’s and Barnbarroch Organic (using Shopify) and Galloway Food Hub and producers in the Good Food Loop (using OFN).
With initial funding of just over £500,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund and fiscal hosting by OFN UK ending in June 2025, the Food Data Collaboration are raising investment to take the project onwards to the next stage as an independent organisation. The team is currently seeking equity investment to build the infrastructure that will enable a full launch in June 2026. If you’re interested in being part of this exciting journey, you can learn more about this opportunity here.
Find out more
- Visit the Food Data Collaboration website for information about the project’s vision and mission and how you can get involved.
- You can also connect via LinkedIn.