The Wales Real Food and Farming Conference 2021

At OF&G we are very proud to be co-sponsors of the third annual Wales Real Food and Farming Conference.

This year the event is being organized as a virtual conference on 24-26 November 2021 and will be a focal point for the growing food movement in Wales.

Building on last year’s online event, which was attended by over 250 people, WRFFC21 will bring together farmers and growers, food businesses, nutritionists, community leaders and policymakers across Wales and beyond.  It will have a full programme of seminars, interactive discussions, practical demonstrations, videos and networking sessions.

WRFFC21 will cover a range of topics, including the proposed Community Food Strategy, the inter-twining of food, nutrition and health, balancing food production and environmental protection, moving into horticultural production, and a food and farming update by the Welsh Government.

The guest speakers will be Tim Lang, Emeritus Professor of Food Policy at City, University of London; Lois Mansfield, Professor of Upland Landscapes at the University of Cumbria, and gardener (and Instagrammer) Adam Jones of Carmarthenshire, better known as "Adam yn yr Ardd" ('Adam in the garden').

Eifiona Thomas Lane, lecturer in Geography and Environmental Planning at Bangor University and Conference Chair, said: “The Conference will look at the foundations of our food and farming system through a sustainable and responsible lens.  We will not only discuss how our food is produced, but also how it can be distributed and used fairly, and the effect this can have on our health and wellbeing, through a localized diet.”

Jane Ricketts Hein, the conference co-manager, said: “While the immediate response to the Covid pandemic showed how communities can pull together for a common good, we now need to continue that momentum.  Our environment, our communities and our own health depend on us getting the food system right.  The Conference is a chance to come together to look at potential answers and inspire each other.”

Building on the energy of last year’s event, which was originally inspired by the Oxford Real Farming Conference held every January, the Conference has already received support and sponsorship, but would be glad to speak to other sponsors.

“We are especially grateful to the Welsh Government, and Organic Farmers & Growers, and are in discussion with several other organizations,” said Jane Ricketts Hein. “As the event is online, we hope to reach even more people than we did last year, and welcome everyone – irrespective of their Covid status!”

Tickets are now on sale via Eventbrite at £5-£35 plus Eventbrite fee, and the organizers welcome further offers of sponsorship. Updates on the conference programme will be posted on the Conference website.

Updates and information also available via the conference twitter account - CGFFfC-WRFFC