On Friday 20th September 2024, over thirty individuals from across Plymouth gathered to explore the state of the UK’s food system as part of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission’s Food Conversation work, facilitated by the city’s local sustainable food partnership Food Plymouth. Local residents and representatives of a diverse range of organisations across the public, private and community sectors took part over the course of a morning and lunch time together.
Together we dived into discussion about a diverse range of food system issues, ranging in scope from a national to a local level. Moving into smaller groups, we shared the positives and negatives of how our food system works right now before reconvening as one group to tackle the most important question: most what can be done to make it better and who is it that needs to take action for this to happen? Big questions were met with big calls to action – and some littler ones too!
Lunchtime proved a chance to digest good food and good conversation, with the opportunity to engage with Plymouth’s Mossy Carpet project, and shine a spotlight on thirty years of Fairtrade as part of Fairtrade Fortnight 2024 with Fairtrade Plymouth.
Watch the video below to explore the key learnings from this very first Food Conversation for Plymouth, which, we hope, will be one of many still to come.
Food Plymouth is grateful to the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission for their grant of £1,000.00 to organise the event as one of numerous local food partnership recipients within the Sustainable Food Places network. Thanks also go to caterer Purdy Giles of Purdy’s Punjabi Cuisine and to our venue for the day of Sherwell United Church, as well as the Food Plymouth core team who worked tirelessly on the day to ensure all ran smoothly.
Could you host your own Food Conversation?
If you’re part of an organisation or community group that is keen to host your very own Food Conversation, you’re warmly welcome to do so, with a host of resources on hand from the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission to help you along the way.
Why host a Food Conversation?
You’ll be part of a UK-wide conversation about food
You’ll connections, build relationships and understand people in your community better
You’ll contribute to a push for food system change
You’ll support people around you to become more active in shaping the future of food
What the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission toolkit offers:
The Food Conversation toolkit includes:
Links to short explanatory films and talks for use in a conversation
Detailed plans and guidance for how to host a conversation
Options for a one-day, half-day or 90 minute conversation, online or in person
Downloadable materials and activities
Tips on hosting a successful conversation
A simple and short template to tell us what you covered
An invitation for participants to stay involved in The Food Conversation
Find out more via The Food Conversation website.
