The Highland Good Food Conference So Far…

by Josie Fraser, Researcher and Writer for HGFC

We are over half-way through the Highland Good Food Conference and what a truly incredible three days it has been! Over ninety people from not only the Highlands & Islands but the borders of Scotland and even the south coast of England have joined to share ideas and inspirations to create a Good Food system here in the Highlands. Of course our conference is taking place virtually but this is what enables so many people to join and we couldn’t be happier! 

So what is the conference all about?

Many of us are becoming more aware of the need to improve the food system here in the Highlands. Why? Well, as we all know by now, climate change is a serious threat across the planet but there is a lot that can be done to reduce the most serious effects. One thing we can do is create a more sustainable, or regenerative, agricultural system. But climate change is happening alongside a social injustice: right now, Scotland faces a nutritional crisis as not everyone has access to fresh, local and healthy food. The motivation for this conference goes further yet as many local producers in the Highlands do not receive the income that their products are truly worth, meaning that those charged with the essential role of providing food can find themselves struggling to put bread on their own table.

This conference therefore provides an opportunity for everyone motivated by these issues to come together and work out the solutions as part of a team and create deliverable actions that will contribute to achieving a food system that’s better for all — and that’s exactly what is happening! We have delegates from all different backgrounds taking part — farmers, crofters, bakers, cooks, community groups, consumers — which shows the need for change is felt throughout our Highland community. 

How is it going so far?

The level of enthusiasm from the delegates really blew us away! We have had some incredibly enriching discussions with so much knowledge and passion being exchanged.

On Day 1 we set about creating the Highland Good Food Vision with exciting discussions on topics such as what a Highlander’s diet should look like in 2030, what values should underpin this good food system and how to be resilient against climate change. There was so much excitement and motivation coming from delegates (and organisers!) as we gathered for the first time.

Responses on Twitter after the first day!

 

We had some great provocations on Day 1 to guide our thoughts and discussions. Have you ever thought about creating a glasshouse sector in the Highlands so that we can grow our own meditteranean vegetables right here instead of importing them? This was one idea presented to us along with stimulating talks on the importance of shortening the supply chain and the role of both consumers and biodiversity in achieving this improved system. 

Keywords from day 1 that we used to guide the vision of the good food system. 

 

On Day 2 we focused on the people involved in the food system and how to best keep them at the heart of what we do. Many delegates felt that education and focussing on the younger generation is incredibly important in tackling some of the issues we face, including food poverty. There was also a lot of interest in the importance of community growing for our wellbeing  which is a topic that was covered by one of our provocateurs. Access to healthy food as a human right was also a common point which was expanded on by a provocation that showed how access to good food improves our overall health and helps us fight  diseases. 

Day 3 focused on what needs to happen to make local food production sustainable. Our provocations that day ranged from learning about how to use language as a tool to spread the idea of regenerative agriculture to the importance of our soil for the environment, the need for local abattoirs and a unique idea to support crop seed diversity. Clearly there is a lot to do to produce local food sustainably but the provocations and conversations throughout the day made it just as clear that together we can make it happen. Day 3 ended with the word hope being used by many to describe how they felt coming away from the conference.

Since Day 2 delegates have been working in themed action groups, each focusing on a specific project that works towards the good food system. Right now they are hard at work coming up with an action plan to implement their ideas. This is very exciting and we cannot wait to tell you all about it in our next blog! 

What’s next?

The final days of the conference will focus on ways to fund our local food system and delegates will also be taking a lead on the final day and present to the rest of the conference their action plans to turn this Highland Good Food vision into a reality.

We can’t wait for the final few days and to see how those projects will grow beyond the conference. Keep an eye on our Twitter and Instagram pages for highlights from our final days. We will also have another blog coming out at the end of the conference where you can find out more details about what’s to come next!