SCSYS: Local Loop


Innovations that are guided by smallholder farmers, adapted to local circumstances, and sustainable for the economy and environment will be necessary to ensure food security in the future. (Bill Gates)

'it's the economy...'

Looking to discover if the value of spending local can be measured, understood and shown.

How much of our money can be kept in the local community?

How much better will we be economically if we encourage local trade.?

We aim to encourage more local shopping and to find out the answers to those questions.


  • Designed from the mind, philosophy and studies of Michael Hallam the Local Loop Project is a combined effort between:

    • Shadowcat Systems Limited
    • Small Green Consultancy
    • Ethical Small Traders Association
    • Independent Lancaster

rEAD THE fOOD sTATISTICS pOCKETbOOK FOR THE uk 2016

Help Us

We would like your input to help us shape this project. One of the most important elements for us to learn is how relevant is shopping and trading locally to people. We would also like to know what motivates people to shop locally or makes them use non-local sources. Please take the Survey linked below.

Names will be used solely to identify the data and the answers and will not be part of any published material. You need not answer any question if you would rather not. Please only fill out the form once.

  • “
    "A globalised food system drives efficiency, scale and specialisation and, in turn, drives diets towards the commodity crops - calorie-rich but nutrient-poor - with its implications for health,"
    Prof Tim Benton of the University of Leeds
    ”
  • “
    "We used to grow a greater range of crops. The UK has seen a decline in the indigenous produce grown here with orchards, for example, now accounting for 25,100 hectares compared to 113,000 hectares 50 years go."
    Morrisons
    ”
  • “
    "We can also refocus land management to encourage biodiversity, improve animal welfare and help tackle climate change.
    But ultimately what happens to farming will affect us all as it will shape the future of our economic, social, environmental and physical landscapes."
    Molly Scott Cato
    ”

Read More

Want to learn more, try reading some of the information in the following links

Local Loop Project

A local loop is money that travels around the local economy. You spend with local shops, who buys from local suppliers, who employs local people. The money doesn't leave the system it loops around it.
  • Local Loop Multiplier
    The New Economics Foundation defined a Local Loop Multiplier which inspired the creation of the Local Loop system. This system is intended to further quantify local spending. It intends to go further than the Leaky Bucket Metaphor which is used by NEF to signify data that can no longer be tracked or has left the local economy.
  • Quadruple Bottom Line
    The project is intended to operate by the principles of the Quadruple Bottom Line as defined by the Small Green Consultancy and used by the Ethical Small Traders Association. These are: enhancing economic well-being; environmental care, cultivating social well-being; ongoing personal development.
  • Who are the Developers
    The project is intended to operate by the principles of the Quadruple Bottom Line as defined by the Small Green Consultancy and used by the Ethical Small Traders Association. These are: enhancing economic well-being; environmental care, cultivating social well-being; ongoing personal development.