September 2024: Farmer-led Working Group

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In September, our Farmer Advisory Board tackled a critical question: how can education help future generations understand the vital link between healthy food choices, personal health, and the sustainability of our planet?

The session brought together farmers, campaigners, NGOs, retailers, manufacturers and processors to explore how businesses in the supply chain can contribute to this educational mission.

Farmers emphasised their power as storytellers and communicators, with Sophie Gregory urging farmers to be bold and authentic on social media, while Ben Williams and Chris Manley highlighted the importance of personal stories and transparency in building trust with consumers and policymakers.

The session made clear that businesses possess the budgets, skills and influence to drive demand, build a more resilient British supply chain and support public health goals, but this requires moving beyond transactional relationships.

As Ben Williams powerfully stated, farming won't hit net zero by 2040 without collective action: businesses need to find the school farms, sponsor those farms, champion them, and go back to policymakers saying "we want more of this."

The message was unmistakable: education isn't someone else's job, it's everyone's responsibility, and businesses have a critical role in engaging citizens through storytelling, transparency and genuine collaboration.