An eclectic bunch of food-interested folk were brought together by a lightly worded invite from the University of Exeter. Producers, retailers, academics, distributors and consumers gathered for the 'welcome local finger buffet and regional drinks reception' but were soon sat down in front of their name tags eager to see what the 'introduction, discussions and break-out groups and feedback session' were going to cover. 

The hosts turned out to be Professor Michael Winter and Dr. Matt Lobley, (Co-Directors of the University's Centre for Rural Policy Research), who were eager to share the news of two major pieces of research. The UK is currently producing 54% of its food needs - and the percentage is falling. 

The first was 'for information only' and was Professor Winter's 'baby'. In the autumn a Food Security and Land Resilience Alliance is being launched. The alliance is between Exeter and Bristol Universities and Rothamsted Research at North Wyke. They are going to research crop diseases, soil, water, the ecosystem and climate. So if any producer out there has a burning need for some research to help them improve their yields - get in touch (d.m.winter@exeter.ac.uk).

The second piece of work was to furnish the main points of discussion for the remainder of the evening. Dr. Lobley is lead on a review of the agri-food sector in Devon and Cornwall. The review will sum up the volume, values, processing of, routes to market, market trends and the skills and training requirements of the sector. 

Dr. Lobley wanted the break-out groups to discuss: 

• How is the challenging economic environment impacting on consumer behaviour?
• Looking to the future, how important will trends such as localness and place-based producers be? Other emerging trends?
• What are the barriers, the opportunities and the support needs?

But, as is the way of these things, we talked education, health, research into pathogens offered by the university, supermarkets (nobody loved Tesco). 

Matt Lobley (mlobley@exeter.ac.uk) was sanguine about our digressions and enthusiastic about our interests and in the autumn he will be approaching Devon producers to take part in his review - you have been warned!!