Name: Rethink Food: The Value of Food Diversity in Scotland
Start: 2023-06-14T17:00:00+01:00
End: 2023-06-14T21:30:00+01:00
Location: Scottish Storytelling Centre

Rethink Food: The Value of Food Diversity in Scotland

Nature Friendly Farming Network

Explore the impacts of lacking food diversity & how we can achieve greater variety in Scotland's food & farming systems

Scottish Storytelling Centre

T﻿he Nature Friendly Farming Network&#x27;s Rethink Food: The Value of Diversity in Scotland brings together farmers, food system experts, academics and policymakers to discuss the critical importance of food diversity from farm to plate. Includes a food and drinks reception.W﻿hy does food diversity matter?We have many choices in the supermarket, yet our diets have become less varied. Of the 6,000 plant species humans have eaten over time, we mostly grow and consume only nine and a third of those (rice, wheat and maize) provide 50 per cent of all calories. As set out in our recent <a href="https://www.nffn.org.uk/rethink-food-report/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Rethink Food: A Plan for Action report</a>, food diversity is essential for our future and a loss of variety presents multiple challenges from nutrition and environmental resilience to climate change adaptability. Narrowing what we consume puts global food security at risk as we rely on a handful of crops, all vulnerable to external environmental pressures. This reliance on monocultures engineers farm environments to be dependent on artificial fertilisers and chemicals with knock-on effects on biodiversity. Food diversity represents much more than sustenance: food is intricately bound to heritage, geography and culture.How do we achieve a truly sustainable and diverse food system in Scotland?R﻿ethink Food: The Value of Diversity in ScotlandOur panellists will present their views including evidence of the importance of food diversity, the need to improve it and the opportunities for achieving greater diversity in Scotland’s food and farming systems. The event will consider food security, the economy and food diversity:<ul><li>How can Scotland&#x27;s bold ambition for an agroecological food system be translated into effective policy support for diversifying food?</li><li>H﻿ow is the lack of food diversity impacting people&#x27;s health and how can this be addressed?</li><li>How can a diverse food system benefit farm and croft businesses?</li></ul>Panellists <ul><li>Wendy Barrie - Cook, Scotland’s Ark of Taste and Scottish Food Guide</li><li>David Finlay, The Ethical Dairy - Dairy Farmer &amp; Cheese Maker</li><li>Gillian Butler - Agricultural Scientist and Specialist Researcher in Animal Health and Food Quality Newcastle University</li><li>Robin Gourlay OBE - Scottish Government Advisor on Food Policy and Associate Scotland Food and Drink</li><li>Professor Mary Brennan - Scottish Food Coalition Chair</li><li>Mads Fischer-Møller - Food policy advisor, WWF Scotland</li></ul>Programme:17.00﻿ - Food and drinks reception17﻿.30 - Welcome: Denise Walton, Chair NFFN Scotland 1﻿8.00 - Opening address18.15 - Panel discussion: Food Diversity in Scotland: The Problems and The Potentials <ul><li>Wendy Barrie </li><li>David Finlay </li><li>Gillian Butler </li></ul>18.50 - Audience Q&amp;A 19.15 - Panel discussion:Achieving Diverse Food and Farming: The Solutions <ul><li>Robin Gourlay OBE</li><li>Mads Fischer-Møller</li><li>Professor Mary Brennan </li></ul>19.50 - Audience Q&amp;A20.20 - Closing remarks followed by tea, coffee and cake21.30 - Close

Rethink Food: The Value of Food Diversity in Scotland

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Rethink Food: The Value of Food Diversity in Scotland

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