Sustainable Agriculture : What can congregations contribute?

The Church and Society Council of the Church fo Scotland is organising a conference entitled:

GIVE US OUR DAILY BREAD

Sustainable Agriculture: What can congregations contribute?

Thursday, 10th February

121 George Street, Edinburgh

Food and agriculture is a subject of ongoing interest and importance both in Scotland and elsewhere. We read of developments and challenges that often seem contradictory: the real difficulties facing some farmers in Scotland on the one hand and huge agricultural subsidies paid to others; the immense power of the supermarkets and the decline of high street shops; an epidemic of obesity in Scotland but poverty elsewhere in the world; new food technologies like GM and the rise of organic alternatives; the exploitation of third world producers and the growth of fair trade; the need to feed seven billion people on earth, possibly rising to nine billion later this century and the destruction of natural habitats to provide more agricultural land to do so.

Consideration of some of these issues persuaded the Church and Society Council to investigate the meaning of ‘sustainable agriculture’ in more detail. The investigation is focused on Scotland but must take account of developments elsewhere. The Council is aware that much work is already underway and is concerned to add to this work not to duplicate it. In particular the Council is interested to explore the question ‘What can congregations do?’

This conference is an opportunity to explore these concerns and to learn more from experts in these issues. Its purpose is to help the Church & Society Council develop a report with recommendations for the General Assembly in 2012, a report that will provide insights and guidance for congregations. We don’t anticipate that the conference will provide firm answers but we do hope it will help to shape our thinking.

The Programme is as follows:

10.30am Registration + Coffee/ Tea


11am Welcome from Chair: Sheena Wurthmann

Keynote address: David Atkinson

12 noon Lunch

12.45pm Discussion groups
• Our mutual food: Pete Ritchie, Whitmuir Farm
• Science and agriculture - new technologies, new opportunities, new challenges: Donald Bruce, Edinethics
• Community supported agriculture: local food production, transition towns, allotments: Richard Frazer and Josiah Lockhart, Grassmarket Community Project
• The view from the farm: issues and challenges facing farmers: John Picken, NFU Scotland
• The view from the Scottish Government: Antje Branding, Scottish Government

1.45pm Coffee/ Tea

2pm Plenary

Each discussion group is asked to report back to the plenary session:

• What were the three main points they discussed?
• What message would the discussion group like to send to congregations?
• What one action would the discussion group like the Church of Scotland to do?

3pm Close