CREATING FOOD FUTURES, a personal and group journey centred around a sequence of five workshops over the next twelve months. A sharing and learning process relevant to your business activities and your personal choices.

The Association of Sustainability Practitioners (ASP) presents a series of events in Bristol that explores the issues raised in a new book “Creating Food Futures: trade, ethics and the environment” (Gower/Ashgate). Fundamental issues in today’s food production, distribution and retailing will be introduced by the speakers, many of whom are contributors to the book.

• Organic farming and its impact on the community
• Local or global sourcing
• Fairtrade
• The roles of supermarkets
• UK and international perspectives

Four interactive, participatory one day workshops where attendees will debate and study the impacts of key areas of food production, supply and retailing. Attendees from all areas of food production, distribution and retailing as well as regulatory bodies and research will contribute and share their experiences, views and beliefs.

A “Food Futures Summit” in September 2009 will allow leading figures from the industry and two hundred participants to review the workshop outcomes and develop new initiatives.

Creating Food Futures provides inspiring examples of what is being done and what more could be attempted.

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Supporters:
Sustainability South West
Bristol Fairtrade Network
The Schumacher Institute
The Hub Bristol
Bordeaux Quay
The Environment Council
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Workshop 1:

1) The ‘social-economic footprint’ of different types of farming systems. Matthew Reed

• Does a shift to farming systems that sustain ecological functioning favour the viability of farming communities and rural livelihoods?
• Are the values that consumers want provided for?

2 ) The impact of the organic sector in Berlin-Brandenburg (Germany) on sustainable regional development. Martina Schäfer

• How does the organic sector - farms, processors and retailers - contribute towards regional sustainable development with market and non-market activities?
• How can the organic sector itself strengthen its role in regional development and how can politics take strategic advantage of this innovative sector?

14th November 2008, 10:00 – 18:00,
The Hub Bristol,
Bush House,
72 Prince Street,
Bristol BS1 4QD

Tickets
Companies, NGO’s, Academic:£125
ASP members:£85

Registration:
Download registration document

Event description:
Download programme

For further information contact: Gwyn Jones, 0779 563 2607,

Future events: (subject to change)
Following meetings in spring and early summer 2009 will explore contrasting and conflicting ways of achieving ‘food literacy’, whether ‘fair’ really can be mainstreamed, and values-based branding. The final meeting will bring together the learning of the first four events into a ‘Food Futures Summit’. The events will use elements of song, theatre, food and wine to make the day inspiring and a unique experience.

February: Workshop 2, The values of fair trade and empowerment,
April: Workshop 3, Sourcing food locally and the role of supermarkets
June: Workshop 4, Enabling consumers to connect with the food they eat
September: Food Futures Summit

We want to involve the participants in as many ways as possible in these events. For example, we plan to source all the refreshments from the attendees’ own businesses. It may not be possible to accommodate everyone on the first event, but we will do our best!