Held at Coleg Cambria, Ruthin, the two-day conference will take place from Wednesday November 1 at the college’s land-based Llysfasi site.

Now in its fifth year, it will open with an address by former BBC economics correspondent Sarah Dickins, who is in the Net Zero 2035 food challenge group and is a ‘making sustainability happen member’. 

“Food production has a central role to play in the fight to slow down climate change. The way that we grow crops and rear animals , food processing and food supply chains form a considerable part of UK carbon emissions,” said Sarah. 

“At the same time farm worker incomes in Wales are low and for many others availability of affordable fresh food is a challenge. However we have the opportunity to change our systems in the way that can help households, communities and the planet.”

The programme includes sessions on a wide range of topics across food and farming, including wildlife and farming, school meals catering, county farms, horticulture, water management, community food projects and the cost of living. It will ask how we can create better opportunities to grow more food sustainably in Wales.

“Having the conference at Llysfasi means we can welcome people from northeast Wales and draw on the vibrant food culture in the area, ” said conference organizer Jane Powell.

“There has never been a greater need to mobilize civil society to create a better world, through food and farming,” she added.

Head of Llysfasi Elin Roberts said: “Food and farming have a huge impact on the economy in North Wales and beyond, so this is a very important event which will bring the farming community together with producers, suppliers and stakeholders to look at how we can all work together to capitalize on the many opportunities that are out there, as well as working on solutions to current challenges in agriculture and food production.

“We are privileged to host the conference, it is a crucial summit which also focuses on sustainability, the environment and technological innovations in the farming sector, all issues we are at the forefront of here at Coleg Cambria Llysfasi.”

The independent conference is brought together by a team of staff and volunteers from a range of relevant organizations passionate about developing and supporting sustainable, equitable and resilient farming and food systems.

An important feature of the conference this year will be catering by Yale Restaurant in Wrexham, who use organic and local ingredients, reflecting the best of Welsh food production.