The 2007 Soil Association conference focuses on the urgent need to develop new models of localised food and farming systems. This is in anticipation of the central role that farmers and growers will play in averting climate change and delivering food security in an era of scarce and expensive energy.

Keynote speakers:

Colin Campbell
Jonathan Dimbleby
Richard Heinberg
Rob Hopkins
Jeremy Leggett
Kevin Morgan
Jeanette Orrey
Jonathon Porritt

Programme highlights:

The full cultural conference programme includes art and music.

Thursday 25 January
Evening - Reception buffet supper and organic clothes show

Friday 26 January
Morning - Key note addresses: energy use, climate change and agriculture from world-renowned speakers
Afternoon - Workshops: farm energy, food distribution, energy reduction plans, urban agriculture, sustainable building, and farm culture
Evening - Slow Food dinner at the Coal Exchange

Saturday 27 January
Morning - Workshops: supplying schools and hospitals, the next generation, land and spirit, adapting in hills and remote regions, and story-telling. Question Time - too late to save the planet?
Afternoon - Workshops: taking action in horticulture, dairy, livestock, small and large food business and rural communities
Conference closes with the Bournemouth Sinfonietta Choir, Five Seasons - The Organic Cantata

Who should attend:

Farmers and growers - Hear from those with practical, experience of reducing energy use and developing new models of local production and distribution. Sponsored reduced rates available. Policy makers - As climate change and oil shortages bite, energy and food scarcity issues will rise up the political agenda. Learn how countries like Cuba and communities like Totnes and Kinsale have adapted to enforced energy cuts.

Food manufacturers, distributors, caterers and retailers - No food business will be immune from the need to develop more energy-efficient, localised production and distribution systems. Find out how you can be prepared for the future.

Citizens - Build your own energy reduction plans, as already adopted by forward-thinking communities and citizens across the UK.

Venue:

Cardiff International Area, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff CF10 2EQ

How to book:

For all conference and booking enquiries contact the events team on Email: events@soilassociation.org or Tel: 0117 314 5171

Accommodation:

Competitive rates at suitable hotels and B&Bs can be arranged through Cardiff Arena. Please contact:
T: 02920 234998
E: cia.accom@livenation.co.uk

Theme:

There may be differing views on exactly when the tide will turn on our oil and carbon reserves, but many analysts predict that it is likely to happen before 2010. From the perspective of climate change, this is not a moment too soon. Although reserves will ensure reasonable availability for many decades subsequently, oil prices are likely to rise sharply, completely changing the dynamics of cost effectiveness in transport, food production, housing and alternative energy sources.

A new and irresistible driver will then, over the next few years, force change in the way we live, farm and buy our food. Whilst many of us have anticipated these changes, it has been the debate over environmental care, closer connection between citizens and the land, and animal welfare that has raised awareness of the need to change both our methods of production and the means by which we process and distribute our food. In the future, however, what has been 'nice to have' will become imperative.

The Soil Association's role, working with many others, is to anticipate and prepare for these changes, for the benefit of our farmers and growers, food networks and society. This conference is an opportunity to take both a big picture look at what the surprisingly near future will bring and to discuss strategies that will allow us to move confidently forward into a world post peak oil.

The 2007 Conference is kindly sponsored by Ecover

Conference 2006 - Feeding Our Cities in the 21st Century

The 2006 Annual Conference took place on 6-7 January. Read David Cameron's speech to the Conference where he congratulated the Soil Association in raising awareness on school dinners and the progress in organic farming, but outlined what more needs to be done to close the gap in imports and remedy the crisis in British farming.

The plenary sessions are available on audio CD at a cost of £25 + p&p. Please contact Feona Horrex on fhorrex@soilassociation.org or 0117 987 4586 for further information and orders.