Soil Association conference
As winter draws nearer so it’s also the season for conferences. In my experiences of conferences and events in the organic movement at this time of year, it’s like a celebration - generally a quieter time on the farm, a chance to reflect on the year gone and an opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones.
After a gap of nearly two years, the Soil Association conference is back with a vengeance. After the wonderful Cardiff conference it was a little disappointing not to have a follow up conference in January this year. It’s therefore very pleasing to see the themes of Cardiff brought forward to November’s conference in Bristol.
Transition: Food and Farming in 21st century Britain aims to discuss all the critical factors facing society and, in particular, farming. Peak oil, climate change, soil and water depletion and population growth all combine to present major challenges.
The line up of speakers is impressive and includes star of the Cardiff conference Vandana Shiva, recent Schumacher award winner Rob Hopkins, Secretary of State Hilary Benn MP and leading food policy thinker Tim Lang. These, combined with many interesting workshop sessions promises to make the conference a must-be-there event.
Bristol is the host city on 18th and 19th November at the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum (right next to Temple Meads station). Go to www.soilassociation.org/conference for more details and to download the programme.