Open Framework

We are not here to tell others what to do:

The open framework avoids prescriptive solutions, accommodates diversity and allows, with minimum interference, the direct access of any and all in the Northwest’s field to fork chain to be engaged and involved in Foodlink, particularly through on-line access.

The Foodlink project intends to use the open framework concept as its guiding principle and we will follow this concept when establishing the infrastructure solutions which will encourage greater participation in the local food-linking process.

We believe the huge diversity of the local food offer from the region is a strength which can be best harnessed by providing to the wider audience a commonality of purpose which highlights the depth of knowledge, skill and commitment that individual enterprises, groups and local people demonstrate in their passion for our local foods.

The very nature of local foods encapsulates a desire to achieve individual goals and this individuality needs to be maintained and expressed to full effect if we are to continue to build upon the foundations and traditions our local food heritage represents. But, if we can draw this individualism together without compromising on its strength, then the audience is provided with a more powerfully focused local food message.  

Therefore, the Open Framework Organisational Structure is:

•    A guiding philosophy
•    Inclusive of diversity
•    Interactive where possible
•    Open access where possible
•    None intrusive
•    Over-arching and complementary
•    Non prescriptive
•    Functionally developable and dynamic

and can be summed up as a federating structure where the broad church of participating organisations, whether commercial or otherwise, retain their individual organisational and constitutional frameworks but are able to engage more effectively with the wider public audience in order to pursue their own local food objectives.