Sustain at Groundswell 2025

Groundswell, the Regenerative Agriculture Festival, will be back on 2 and 3 July for another year of lively discussions around food and farming. This year Sustain will be hosting two sessions, firstly "Reshaping supply chains for a regenerative farming future", will explore how farmer-focused supply chains can drive a regenerative transition from field to fork. The second Sustain session, "Labour’s first year: food and farming policy review", which will examine how the new government’s first year in office is shaping the UK’s food system.

Additionally, Kiloran O’Leary, Sustain’s Campaign Officer for the Bridging the Gap programme, will be speaking on the panel, “Making public procurement workable: selling through food hubs”, which will explore the barriers to agroecological growers accessing public sector contracts and potential solutions.

Reshaping supply chains for a regenerative farming future
Location: Seminar Tent
Date & Time: Wednesday 2 July, 12:00 - 12:55
Chair: Hannah Gibbs (Sustain)
Speakers: 
Patrick Holden OBE (Sustainable Food Trust), Julia Kirby-Smith (Better Food Traders), Josiah Meldrum (Hodmedod), Katie Palmer (Food Sense Wales).

This session will explore how farmer-focused supply chains can drive a regenerative transition from field to fork. Speakers will discuss innovative ways for farmers to reach consumers, gain fairer profits, and reestablish the connection between citizen and producer. 

Session details

Labour’s first year: food and farming policy review
Location: Big Top
Date & Time: Thursday 3 July, 13:00 - 13:55
Chair: Andrew Meredith (Farmers Weekly)
Speakers: Harriet Bell (Riverford), Kath Dalmeny (Sustain), Joe Stanley (the Allerton Project), Anna Taylor OBE (the Food Foundation).

How has the Labour government’s first year in office reshaped the food and farming landscape? This session will dive into the most notable elements of the new government’s policy agenda, including controversial inheritance tax reform, the land-use framework, farmer support schemes to meet climate and targets, and the national food strategy.

Session details

Making public procurement workable: selling through food hubs
Location: Soil Tent
Date & Time: Thursday 3 July, 11:00 - 11:55
Chair: Nick Weir (Open Food Network)
Speakers: Richard Edwards (Cultivate), Abi Mordin (Propagate), Kiloran O’Leary (Sustain), Zosia Walczak (Growing Communities).

Agroecological farmers and growers often face barriers to securing public procurement contracts, such as the admin involved or not being able to meet the quantity requirements of public sector buyers. Kiloran O’Leary will share insights from Sustain’s Bridging The Gap programme, which has demonstrated ways to enable people on a low income to access climate and nature friendly food.

Session details

Many Sustain alliance members will be conducting workshops and discussions throughout Groundswell 2025. Full details are now available on the Groundswell festival programme.