UK Event - Autumn 2024

We hosted our second in-person, invite only, CALF event in London on the 8th of October 2024 under Chatham House Rule, which was about shaping the future of the UK food system under a new labour government. We hosted around 60 high-level key stakeholders (animal welfare, food and climate NGOs, academics, public affairs agencies, corporates, investors) influencing sustainable and animal friendly food systems in the UK. The format of this event was similar to the Brussels edition, with two keynote speeches followed by 3 panelists ​and 5 break out rooms​ sessions to discuss topics in depth and find solutions. We ended the event by eating lunch all together and sharing key findings that were discussed in the break out rooms.

Full agenda below:

Welcome words: Jeremy Coller

Keynote speeches: Recent successes in achieving animal friendly and sustainable food systems in the UK:

• "The first approval of cultivated meat in the UK: pet food" by Owen Ensor, CEO of Meatly

• “The end of an era : a ban on live animal exports” by Anthony Field, Head of Compassion in World Farming UK

Panel discussion: "Challenges and opportunities in aligning on a sustainable UK agri-food system: 4 different views”

• Henry Dimbleby, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Leon, Bramble Partners

• Vicki Hird, Strategic Lead on Agriculture, The Wildlife Trusts

• Tom McMillan, Rural Policy and Strategy, Royal Agricultural University

Moderator:

• Lara Pappers, Senior Programme Development Manager, Jeremy Coller Foundation.

Break-out rooms:

Break-out room 1: How Brexit impacted the Common Agricultural Policy: Reflecting on the reformed CAP subsidies and new schemes under the Sustainable Farming Incentive. Break-out room 2: How to engage with Parliament to create sustainable food systems: the role of UK Parliament and how to engage with policy-makers to achieve sustainable food systems. Break-out room 3: Urgent topics to bring to the new government: Analysing priorities such as animal welfare, a transition to more sustainable diets, and subsidy reform. Break-out room 4: National and international multi-stakeholder collaboration: Building alliances in advancing sustainable food systems. Break-out room 5: The Role of Technology and Innovation: Exploring how emerging technologies can support sustainable food systems.