Suffolk Food Summit 2026

hosted by Mid Suffolk District Council
Monday 16 November 2026, 9.00am – 3.30pm
The Food Museum, Stowmarket IP14 1DL

Celebrating Local Food - Building Resilience - Improving Health

The Suffolk Food Summit 2026 brings together the people, organisations and communities who shape our local food system. Hosted by Mid Suffolk District Council at The Food Museum, the summit is a full‑day opportunity to celebrate local food, explore the challenges facing Suffolk’s food resilience, and collaborate on practical, place‑based solutions.

Food resilience means different things depending on where you sit in the system. For some, it’s about coping with extreme weather, droughts, floods or heatwaves. For others, it’s about disease outbreaks affecting crops or livestock, supply chain disruptions, rising food prices, or the viability of farming and food businesses. Whatever the perspective, these issues are deeply connected — and strengthening resilience benefits everyone.

What to expect

  • Inspiring keynote speakers sharing insights on food resilience, health, and community action
  • Interactive workshops covering local food production, community growing, health inequalities, and sustainable food partnerships
  • Showcase sessions highlighting projects making a difference across Suffolk
  • Networking opportunities with partners from across the food, health, community and local government sectors

Who should attend

The summit is designed specifically for those interested in building a resilient food network in Suffolk, including:

  • Farmers and growers
  • Primary producers and local food businesses
  • Retailers and caterers
  • Health and wellbeing professionals
  • Community food support workers and community kitchens
  • Educators, campaigners and local growing projects
  • Anyone passionate about strengthening Suffolk’s food resilience and improving access to nutritious food

Food and refreshments

A complimentary lunch featuring local Suffolk produce will be provided, along with refreshments throughout the day. Please advise us of any access or dietary requirements when booking your place.

Programme

Start time
Description
08:30
Arrival, refreshments, workshop session sign up and an opportunity to visit stalls
09:30

Welcome and introductions:

Councillor Andrew Mellen – Leader of Mid Suffolk District Council

09:45

Key Note Speaker:

William Kendall, Trustee of the Grosvenor Estate and Suffolk based farmer

10:30

Panel Discussions:

Facilitated by Jenny Cousins, Director at the Food Museum

  • Oliver Paul, High Sheriff of Suffolk
  • William Kendall, Trustee of the Grosvenor Estate and Suffolk based farmer
  • Sarah Langford, Barrister, Writer and Farmer
  • Heidi Glendenning, Founder of Thrive Community Café and Pantry
11:15
Break and Refreshments
11:45

Workshops Session 1: 

  1. Our Farming Future - Rethinking our use of land, the view from a farm that has adopted a different way of farming
    How do farmers need to change from traditional methods to a more sustainable way of managing the land for food and wildlife? If farming today was designed from scratch, knowing what we know about climate, nature and food security, what would it look like?

  2. From Farm to Family Table - Creating Five Dinners with Local Produce
    How do local food producers connect their products to practical meal solutions and customer engagement? Understanding the links between healthy eating and local food. How do we link farm-to-fork narratives with recipes?

  3. Growing Communities Through Food
    How can growing food become part of everyday life in Suffolk communities? What growing initiatives already exist? How do we increase participation? What support is needed? What role can growing play in food security?

  4. The Future Food Plate - Rethinking What We Grow
    What does the future of farming look like when viewed through the food on our plates? Explore how Suffolk's growers can help build a more diverse and sustainable local food system by expanding the range of crops they produce. Moving beyond a reliance on monocultures, discuss opportunities for greater fruit, vegetable and speciality crop production that responds to changing consumer demand, environmental challenges and local economic needs.

  5. The Story Behind Our Food - Voices of Primary Producers
    An interactive workshop giving farmers, growers, and food makers the opportunity to share their personal stories, challenges, innovations, and passion for producing food. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of where food comes from, the realities of food production, and the vital role primary producers play in building sustainable and resilient food systems.
12:45
Lunch
13:45

Workshops Session 2: 

A repeat of the morning workshops and an opportunity to attend a different workshop

  1. Our Farming Future - Rethinking our use of land, the view from a farm that has adopted a different way of farming
  2. From Farm to Family Table - Creating Five Dinners with Local Produce
  3. Growing Communities Through Food
  4. The Future Food Plate - Rethinking What We Grow
  5. The Story Behind Our Food - Voices of Primary Producers
14:45

Panel Q and A: 

  • John Sanderson, Director of South Elmham Hall Farms
  • Theo Michaels, creator of Five Dinners
  • Marcia Walker – Suffolk Food Partnership
  • Greg Harrison, owner of Sunshine and Green
  • Claire Mackenzie, Producer of Six Inches of Soil
15:15

Closing Remarks: 

Councillor Andrew Mellen – Leader of Mid Suffolk District Council

Book your free place at the Suffolk Food Summit 2026 - celebrating local food, building resilience, and improving health.

Please note we will do our best to accommodate all requests, but we reserve the right to decline bookings if required.

Arrival is from 08:30, including workshop sign‑up. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please advise us of any access or dietary requirements when booking your place.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Suffolk Food Summit.