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Welsh Government to host sustainable food and drink conference

24-Jun-2024 - Last updated on 24-Jun-2024 at 14:33 GMT

The conference will take place on 3 July in Cardiff. Credit: Food & Drink Wales

The Welsh Government has announced plans to host the country’s first ever conference focusing on sustainability in the food and drink industry.

Set to be held on Wednesday 3 July 2024 at the All Nations Centre in Cardiff, it will be open to all food and drink businesses and professionals in Wales.

The Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Conference, which is being delivered by the Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Cluster in collaboration with the Food & Drink Wales Insight Programme, has been developed in order to help businesses improve the sustainability of their processes in areas that matter most to consumers.

Using an interactive mix of activities and networking opportunities, the event aims to increase business knowledge around market insights, consumer trends and buyer Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

The conference will also offer the opportunity to take part in the Carbon Reduction Plan Pilot Programme, designed to support business baseline their carbon emissions and develop actionable carbon reduction plans.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Cluster lead Mark Grant said: "We are thrilled to launch the first Sustainability Conference in Wales. We have many great speakers with extensive knowledge and experience in the industry joining us, so it promises to be a beneficial event for all food and drink businesses and professionals in Wales. It will be a great chance for the industry to come together at this unique event to discuss and tackle sustainability.”

Launched in January 2020, the Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Cluster uses the three-pronged approach of government, industry and academia working hand in hand to tackle common industry problems.

The Cluster has over 100 producer members, along with 60 government bodies, academic organisations and support organisations including Food Innovation Wales, AMRC Cymru, FareShare, Wrap Cymru, National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) and Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC).

IGD head of sustainability Fiona Powell, who is speaking at the event, added: “I am delighted to be a part of the Food & Drink Wales Sustainability Conference where I will give an overview of how sustainable packaging is evolving, with some key insights on the current progress of environmental labelling in the UK. This will give the SME delegates insight as to what they can be planning for within their own businesses over the medium term.”

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