York Festival of Ideas
The Future of Food
Tick Tock: forecasts suggest if a global population of 11 billion continues to consume meat at the same rate, we will run out of land and water supplies by 2050.
Join us at our Festival Focus Day on The Future of Food as our keynote speakers and panellists explore how we can inspire behaviour change to eat more sustainable diets. The day includes a ‘less and better’ approach to meat consumption.
Friday 10 June
11.00am - 12.30pm
The Challenge of Feeding a Healthy World
Keynote speaker Tim Benton, the UK Champion for Global Food Security, sets out the scale of the challenge, before issues such as waste management are explored by our expert panellists. Speakers include:
- James Murphy, author of the ‘We Will Live as We Will Eat’ report on behalf of World Meat Free Day
- Richard Swannell, Sustainable Food Systems and WRAP
- James Clark, Green Chemistry, University of York
1.30pm - 3pm
Developing Sustainable Food Security Systems
Following a keynote address by Andy Challinor of the University of Leeds, our distinguished panel will examine key questions around food security and sustainable crops. Speakers include:
- Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive of LEAF
- Ben Reynolds of Sustain and Children’s Food Campaign
3.30pm - 5.00pm
Food and Health: The Ticking Time Bomb
Following a keynote address by Neville Rigby, Convenor of the International Obesity Forum, our experts examine the rising cost of obesity and chronic diseases. Speakers include:
- Jean Adams, Cambridge Diet and Activity Research Centre, University of Cambridge
- Annie Anderson, School of Medicine, University of Dundee
- Jason Halford, Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool
- Bee Wilson, Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery (Chair)
6pm to 7.30pm
How to Eat Better and More Sustainably
How can we influence consumer behaviour to improve diets and the impact of food production on the planet? How should food be marketed and what are healthy eating alternatives? Daniel Vennard, Global Sustainability Director, MARS, will present the keynote address. Our panel of experts will then debate the key issues. Speakers include:
- Daniel Vennard, Senior Fellow, World Resources Institute
- Edwina Hughes, Sodexo
- Myles Bremner, Jamie Oliver Food Foundation
- Isabelle Kelly, Quorn/Leeds Beckett University
- Bee Wilson, Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery
From Farm to Fork - International Food Research Programme Set to Launch in Manchester
A group of leading northern universities is set to launch a groundbreaking international food research programme in Manchester. The N8 Research Partnership - which comprises Manchester, Durham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield and York Universities - will launch the N8 AgriFood Programme on 21-22 June at the University of Manchester. This innovative programme will enable academics and researchers to collaborate closely with industry, farmers and the government, and aims to solve the global challenge of ensuring sustainable, resilient and healthy food supplies for everyone.
More than 60 speakers from the likes of Sainsbury’s, PepsiCo, Nestlé, Co-Operative Group, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), HSBC and the National Farmers’ Union will attend the launch event. Over the two days, attendees will explore the need for a sustainable food system to meet current and future needs, particularly in light of population growth and climate change impacts. For more information please visit N8-agrifood-launch-2016
