Food and nutrition teachers from across the UK joined together at Reaseheath College and University Centre for a hands-on conference designed to bring the farm-to-fork journey to life.
The free event, delivered by Food – a Fact of Life (FFL), offered trainee, new and experienced secondary teachers a full day of practical workshops, farm tours and expert-led sessions showcasing the latest developments in food education and careers in the food industry.
Around 30 teachers from Cheshire, the north west and further afield attended the conference at Reaseheath’s Nantwich-based campus on Saturday, November 15th.
Managed by the British Nutrition Foundation in partnership with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the FFL programme equips schools with evidence-based resources and real-world insight to strengthen food and nutrition teaching at primary and secondary level.
Following a morning update on key nutrition trends, delegates chose between two specialist pathways.
One explored primary food production, including a guided farm walk through Reaseheath’s robotic milking systems and modern livestock facilities. Teachers also took part in hands-on workshops in Reaseheath Food Centre, making sausages with Reaseheath farm-reared pork or creating acid-set cheese using milk from the college dairy herd.
The second pathway focused on protected crop growing and food science aimed at reducing food waste. Delegates toured Reaseheath’s state-of-the-art hydroponic glasshouses and Vertical Farm before taking part in a tomato sensory comparison examining taste, nutrition and food miles. They also got to grips with fermentation techniques in a workshop led by Emma Cronin, founder of Wild Pickle, exploring how simple processes can reduce waste and support sustainability.
The conference also provided insight into career pathways across the broader food, farming and horticultural sectors.
Kate Taylor, Apprenticeship and Early Careers Manager at ABP Food Group, delivered a session on careers in the food industry, highlighting the scale of opportunities available for young people entering the agri-food workforce.
Natasha Waters, Education Partnership Manager at Reaseheath, delivered a session on Post 16 Education pathways into the Food sector through T level, Apprenticeship and HE route ways.
Speakers from the Food – a fact of life reinforced the importance of accurate, evidence-based resources in supporting high-quality food education at a time of significant skills shortages.
Sharon Yates, Assistant Principal at Reaseheath College, said: “It’s been fantastic to welcome teachers from across the country to experience the scale of food production and science happening here on campus.
“Supporting educators to deepen their understanding of where our food comes from, and how to bring that alive for young people, showcasing the exciting career opportunities, is essential if we’re going to inspire the next generation of food professionals.”
The day closed with an overview of new FFL resources available to schools, followed by an optional visit to the ever-popular Reaseheath Mini Zoo.
Elsa Healey, Senior Education Manager at AHDB, said: “Giving teachers the chance to experience food production first-hand is vital to inspiring the next generation. By connecting classroom learning with real-world farming and food science, we’re helping educators deepen understanding and showcase the exciting careers available across the agri-food sector.”
Frances Meek, Education Services Manager at British Nutrition Foundation, added: “Working with Reaseheath College and University Centre has been a great way to enable teachers to relate theory to practice through hands-on activities, talks and tours which really helps bring their teaching to life.”
This conference is part of an ongoing partnership between Reaseheath College and University Centre, Food – a Fact of Life, the British Nutrition Foundation and AHDB, aimed at strengthening food education across the UK and supporting teachers through high-quality, practical training rooted in real-world food production.
Visit www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/ for more information.
