A trio of students from Harper Adams University have attended the 25th annual City Food & Drink Lecture - after being chosen as future food industry professionals.
The lecture, in the heart of London, is organised by the eight city livery companies whose roots are in the food and drink industries – the Worshipful Companies of Bakers, Butchers, Cooks, Distillers, Farmers, Fishmongers, Fruiterers and Poulters.
An invitation-only event, it offers industry leaders a chance to come together to shape the future of food.
Its accompanying Future Generation Forum, organised this year alongside New England Seafood International, brings together students from universities around the UK and beyond to shape the next generation of food systems leaders.
Senior Lecturer Martin Anderson – a Liveryman in the Worshipful Company of Butchers - said: “The City Food & Drink Lecture is a calendar highlight for food and drink thought leadership in London.
“This year it celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a keynote lecture from Professor of Diet and Population Health, Susan Jebb OBE - Can Britain’s food and drink industry make the next 25 years healthier than the last?
“This was followed by a debate on the topic, chaired by Charlotte Smith of Radio 4’s Farming Today, and the event concluded with a closing address from HRH the Princess Royal.
“Each year, several universities involved in the sector are asked to bring three students down to the lecture and forum as guests of the liveries.
“It was my pleasure to accompany our three Harper Adams students and present them to Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal.”
Lucy Fan – a Chinese student spending a year at Harper Adams as part of her BSc (Hons) Food Quality with Retail Management degree – described the invitation as ‘an incredible honour.’
She added: “As an international student from China, the event provided a unique platform to engage with global perspectives on food policy and public health.
“This experience has broadened my perspective and inspired me to think more deeply about how diverse international innovations can be integrated and how I can contribute to building a more resilient and healthier global food system.
“For me, the highlight was undoubtedly the personal honour of being presented to HRH The Princess Royal; her genuine interest in the challenges facing our global industry was truly inspiring. Additionally, the sessions with NESI were invaluable.
“They demonstrated that despite our different cultural backgrounds, we are all working towards the same goal: making healthy food more accessible.
“It was a privilege to be part of a discussion that values international collaboration for the common good.”
BSc (Hons) Food Science and Technology student Kerry Roberts added: “It was an incredible opportunity to be able to go.
“I am passionate about British food, locally and sustainable sourced. I am fascinated by the ever-changing ways food is produced, through small and large businesses.
“I have only ever worked in the food industry and only see myself doing so, and listening to others and learning is a massive part of all our journeys and can be the most valuable lesson to ourselves and others - especially within the food industry.”
Kerry was also chosen as a prize-winner during the Future Generation Forum – teams and individuals were tasked coming up with a social media campaign pitch to persuade more people to eat fish.
She added: “Each table in the competition had to come up with a plan to showcase the message how fish is healthy and how to get as much publicity as possible.
“They then had to present the strongest point in front of a panel of judges and give a two-minute Dragon’s Den style pitch, and the winner would secure the prize. I had to present my pitch - and while my heart was racing, amazingly I won!”
Kerry will now get to meet renowned food writer, trainer, presenter, and product developer CJ Jackson – who has been renowned as an expert on fish for more than three decades and who published her first book, the Leiths Fish Bible, in 1998 – as part of her prize.
Reflecting on the day, Kerry’s coursemate Rachel McKillen added: “I was really excited to be asked to take part as it was something I wouldn’t have ordinarily been able to attend - and I am grateful to both the university and Martin to have had such a wonderful opportunity!
“I think my favourite part was the lecture by Professor Susan Jebb OBE about the impact diet is having on our health and that changes really need to be made to prevent a much larger problem.”
Martin said: “Although some bleak messaging came out through the lecture and debate about the state of health and our relationship with food, there remains hope.
“I'm always immensely proud to represent our institution at events like these, as it reminds me that we are integral to solving some of these issues - by having food at the centre of everything we do at Harper.”
Images reproduced with thanks to City Food & Drink Lecture and Phil McCarthy Photography except for image of Lucy Fan, which she provided herself.
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