'Roots to Resilience' Matching Demand with Local Supply.

Cornwall Gateway CIC is an industry-led organisation driving the creation of a purpose-built Agri-Food & Drink Centre to support Cornwall’s food and drink sector. Following a major feasibility study, the centre will provide shared production, packaging, and distribution facilities, helping micro and SME producers scale, innovate, and access new markets. With over 50,000 jobs in the sector and a £2.6bn economic footprint, Cornwall Gateway CIC is working to build a resilient, sustainable future for Cornish food and drink.

Cornwall Gateway CIC

Grow local, make local: building a resilient supply chain together. Join us to connect producers and growers across Cornwall.

Truro College STEM & Health

<h4>Why now</h4>Climate shocks and import volatility are exposing gaps in our food system. Cornwall can lead the way with shorter supply chains, local processing, and climate-smart growing.<h4> What we’ll doThis practical working session brings together producers (chutneys, relishes, sauces, jams, condiments) and growers/farmers to:</h4><ul><li>Map real demand against local growing capacity for key ingredients (onions, tomatoes, peppers/chillies, apples/berries, herbs).</li><li>Identify what’s missing and what it would take to grow more in Cornwall.</li><li>Explore practical steps to process more locally (peeling/dicing, chilling/freezing, canning/jarring).</li><li>Pin down a shortlist of pilot actions for the 2026 harvest and beyond.</li></ul><h4> Who should attend</h4><ul><li>Producers using fruit/veg/herbs at volume (chutneys, relishes, sauces, jams, condiments).</li><li>Farmers/growers interested in current or future crops listed above.</li><li>Partners &amp; enablers: NFU, Eden Project, Phytome, universities, skills &amp; funding bodies.</li></ul><h4> Bring with you (if you can)</h4><ul><li>Producers: Approx. annual ingredient volumes, sourcing breakdown (Cornwall/UK/import), key pain points.</li><li>Growers: Current crops &amp; volumes, crop interests, constraints (land, labour, water, infrastructure).</li></ul><h4> Help us prepare To make the most of the day, we’d like attendees to complete a quick survey in advance. This will help us map real demand against Cornwall’s growing capacity and identify where local processing can make the biggest difference.<ul><li>🌱 Growers/Farmers –<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mhcu5UF030-JvPzg_WyoBDJkjWDzvwdTdJ5chHJfOY4/edit" title="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mhcu5UF030-JvPzg_WyoBDJkjWDzvwdTdJ5chHJfOY4/edit" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> Growers Survey link</a></li><li>🍴 Producers/Food Businesses –<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_D3AB5nriGwxwVScZkv9l62FxBJ_WtxxYm3vYuiIrho/edit" title="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_D3AB5nriGwxwVScZkv9l62FxBJ_WtxxYm3vYuiIrho/edit" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"> Producers Survey link</a></li></ul> Agenda</h4><ul><li>Welcome, context, objectives and introductions</li><li>Producer demand snapshot (group exercise)</li><li>Grower capacity &amp; constraints (group exercise)</li><li>Processing pathway: what/where/how</li><li>Priorities &amp; pilot actions</li><li>Next steps, commitments &amp; lunch networking</li></ul> Data captureYour input matters. Alongside the grower and producer surveys, we wil be using Menti Polls during the session to capture live feedback on volumes, opportunities, and priorities. A short post-event summary will be shared with all attendees so you can see the collective picture and next steps.