Food & Farming Discovery Trust Food
Wednesday 20th November 2024 Project Report
PROJECT INFORMATION
AIMS
The Food Security Conference aimed to engage sixth form students in a comprehensive exploration of food production and security, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities behind food sourcing. Our primary objectives were: Awareness and Education: To illuminate the intricate processes involved in food production, from agricultural practices to distribution and consumption, thereby enhancing students’ awareness of the factors that influence food availability and quality.
1. Critical Thinking: To cultivate critical thinking skills among participants, enabling them to assess and question food production methods, sustainability, and ethical considerations. This includes examining the impact of various agricultural practices on the environment, economies, and societies.
2. Informed Decision-Making: To empower students with knowledge and insights that will inform their future food purchasing decisions, encouraging them to consider the broader implications of their choices on food security and sustainability.
3. Interdisciplinary Understanding: To provide students with a multidisciplinary perspective on food security, integrating elements of science, economics, policy, and ethics to present a holistic view of the challenges and innovations within the field.
5.
4. Engagement and Inspiration: To inspire a sense of responsibility and curiosity about food systems, motivating students to further explore careers or advocacy roles related to agriculture, food security, and sustainable development.
SUMMARY
This project was planned by the FFDT with funding from the Clan Trust.
The conference took place on Wednesday 20th November 2024 at the JIC Conference Centre and provided a range of talks from industry experts within agriculture. The event was open to all sixth form and college students in Norfolk, regardless of their educational pathways or subjects and was free to attend, including lunch and refreshments. We had 142 students across eight sixth forms and colleges registered to attend, including:
City of Norwich Sixth Form
East Norfolk Six Form College
Easton College
Fakenham Academy Sixth Form
Gresham’s School
Sir Isaac Newton Sixth Form
Wymondham High School Sixth Form.
Sixth form and college staff were responsible for booking students spaces at the conference, however although there was the option for individual students to apply to attend, if their sixth form or college was not participating, this was not widely taken up.
SCHEDULE
Arrival from 09:15
10:00 – 10:10 Welcome and State of the Nation - Jeremy Buxton
10:10 – 10:30 Session One - Regenerative Livestock - Gaby George
10:30 – 10: 50 Session Two - Land Use Management - James Beales
10:50 – 11:10 Session Three - Reduction of Food Waste - Caroline Seaman
11:10 – 11:25 BREAK
11:25 – 11:45 Session Four - Soil Health - Jimmy Goodley
11:45 – 12:05 Session Five - Imports, Exports and Food Standards - Josh Dewing
12:05 – 12: 50 LUNCH
12:50 – 13:05 Session Six - Controlled Environment Agriculture - Jaco Olivier
13:05 – 13:20 Session Seven - HP3 - Dr Shannon Woodhouse
13:20 – 13:35 Session Eight - Water Management - Andrew Spinks
13:35 – 13:50 Session Nine – Panel Discussion
13:50 – 14:00 Event summary and closing remarks - Jeremy Buxton
14:00 CLOSE AND DEPART
PRESS COVERAGE
Eastern Daily Press - October 12th 2024
Food security conference planned for Norfolk students - Chris Hill
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24636673.food-security-conferenceplanned-norfolk-students/
A "ground-breaking" food security conference next month will give Norfolk students a chancetodebateandunderstandimportantfarmingissues.
The free event at the John Innes Centre, on the Norwich Research Park, on November 20 is billed as an "unmissable opportunity" for sixth form and college students to explore "one of themostcriticalglobalchallengesofourtime".
Hosted by the Food and Farming Discovery Trust (FFDT), the education arm of the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, it will feature expert speakers with insights into the future offoodproduction,aswellaspotentialcareeropportunities.
Topics will range from soil health and water management to evolving farming and land use strategies.
The event aims to "spark curiosity, inspire action, and offer students the chance to think criticallyabouthowwefeedtheworld".
Organisers said: "Whether students are future scientists, policymakers, or simply have an interest in the future of food, this conference is a must-attend for anyone wanting to understandthekeyissuesshapingourworld."
FFDT manager Frances Roberson added: "We are delighted to host our first food security conference,exclusivelyforthesixthformandpost-16collegestudentsofNorfolk.
"This is set to be a really exciting day with a range of fascinating talks. We really want to highlight to the students the reality of food production, especially here in the UK, and get themthinkingmoreaboutwhereandhowtheirfoodisproduced."
The Food Security Conference takes place on Wednesday November 20 at the JIC Conference Centre in Norwich. The free event, funded by the Clan Trust, includes refreshmentsandlunchforstudentsandstaff.
Bookings are now open for sixth forms and colleges, with a deadline of November 4. For more information and to register for tickets, see ffdt.co.uk/explore/food-securityconference.
Comments from students before the day...
Students were asked to fill in a survey before attending the conference, but it must be noted that this was not mandatory and as a result, the results may be biaised by students attending from one particular college.
Demographics&CareerInterests
Studentsfroman agriculturalbackground
Studentsconsideringa careerinagriculture
Food Awareness and Preferences
finditimportanttoknow wheretheirfoodcomesfrom
93% are concerned about food security in the UK
Tractoris
What do you think are the three biggest challenges in farming? Pre - conference survey results continued...
Post conference student survey results...
Students were asked to fill in a survey before leaving the conference, and was also passed to teachers immediately after the conference to ensure student feedback was recorded.
Enjoyedtheconference
Feeltheyknowmore aboutagriculture
Studentsarenow consideringacareerin agriculture-anincreaseof 9%
84% ofstudentsnowratetheirknowledgeofagriculture of6outof10orhigher-anincreaseof17%
Wanttolearnmoreabout agriculture
Post conference student survey results continued...
What do you think are the three biggest challenges in farming?
HowstudentsrateUKagriculture
Post conference teacher survey results
Wouldbringstudents again
Satisfiedwithcommunication, venue&refreshments
Howdidteachersratetheconferenceoverall? 4.8!
Mostpopularsessionforallattendees?
Session 1 - Regenerative Livestock
Gaby George, Westover Farm Vets
Session4-SoilHealth
JimmyGoodley, JGFarmServices
Session 5
Imports, Exports & Food Standards
Josh Dewing, Dewing Grain
FOOD SECURITY CONFERENCE
SUMMARY
We were pleased with the interest shown in the event by sixth forms, colleges, students and the wider industry professionals alike. We believe that there are no other similar events in Norfolk to cater specifically for this demographic and are pleased to be able to fill this gap in provision of agricultural education. Targeting the event at 16-18 year old students was intentional, as they are towards the end of their mandatory education. Some will soon be living independently from parents or guardians, and we hope to have influenced their buying choices for food in the future. The conference also highlights the variety in agriculture in terms of careers, which students may still be in the process of making choices regarding. We would very much like to continue to run this event again in the future.
Thank you to the JIC Conference Centre for hosting us, and a huge thank you to our brilliant speakers:
Conference Chair - Jeremy Buxton, Eves Hill Farm
Gabby George, Westover Vets
James Beales, Greshams
Caroline Seaman, The Joy of Food
Jimmy Goodley, JG Farm Services
Josh Dewing, Dewing Grain
Jaco Olivier, Greenhouse Growers
Dr Shannon Woodhouse, JIC
Andrew Spinks, Brown & Co.
Without whom the day would not have been possible. Thank you to the contributors prior to the conference who offered their opinions and advice.
Finally we would like to thank the Clan Trust for their generous funding.
Report prepared by Frances Roberson, Trust Manager, FFDT
