Synopsis;

The food and drink sector is, without question, a jewel in the crown of the South West. What is less certain is what the future holds for this key element of the regional economy. Brexit, single farm payments, skills shortages, environment and the sprint of technology combine to provide a daunting challenge.

This conference will seek to cut through the complexity to identify the key strengths and opportunities for the region, highlighting examples of best practice and exploring how the South West can, and is, shaping the UK’s agricultural, food and environmental future.

Agenda;

9.30      Arrival, registration and coffee

10.00    Welcome; Robin Daniels, CEO, SWBC

10.05    Welcome to Duchy College; Dr Phil le Grice, Director of the Rural Economy Cluster

10.15    Quality, integrity & provenance – setting a global standard in Food & Drink

John Sheaves, CEO, Taste of the West

10.35    Shaping Government Policy from the South West;

Tim Jones, Chair, SWBC & Chair, DEFRA Food Procurement Implementation Taskforce, Integrated Supply Chain Sub Group

11.00    From local to global, supplying the world from the West Country

Charles Baughan, Owner, Westaways Sausages

11.15    Coffee

11.35    Clive’s Pies, journey so far; selling pies from a bike to the shelves of every Waitrose

Esther Pearson, General Manager, Clive’s Pies

11.55     Re-imagining the food supply chain

Rich Osborne, CEO, Fresh Range

12.15    Collaborating to succeed

Greg Parsons, Managing Director, POM Support & Founder of the Somerset Larder

12.35    What does the circular economy mean to the food and farming sector?

Prof Mickey Howard, Professor of Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Director of Research - Department of Management Studies

University of Exeter Business School

13.00     Buffet Lunch

13.30     Close