A new co-operative farm is being developed in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, with the purpose of providing "good food for all forever".
Proposed by an inter-denominational group of Christians, Jubilee Farm, based in Larne, is a project to which hopes to partner with people of all backgrounds and beliefs towards the shared goal of ‘good food for all forever’.
Jubilee Farm will include a social farming (or care farming) aspect, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) project, and conservation education to a variety of groups.
The project is supported by the Northern Ireland development body Co-operative Alternatives through the Hive.
The co-op aims to provide affordable seasonal food to members and non-members, and selling surplus produce via the farm shop on the premises.
It also aims to provide therapeutic opportunities related to food production for vulnerable individuals and groups in the local area, particularly adults with special needs.
It will also offer conservation education and engagement providing agricultural and environmental learning sessions for individuals, families, schools, churches and community groups.
The co-op plans to launch in the winter, and its first fundraising event has been organised on 9 September.
The number of farmers who are members of agricultural co-operatives has increased to over 150,000, according to the UK co-operative economy 2017 report.
