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Devon Food Partnership Newsletter
June 2025
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Gather - Food & Drink Summit
 We had a wonderful time at the Food Drink Devon and University of Exeter Gather food and drink summit on Wednesday 11 June.
The day consisted of exciting workshops on a range of issues facing local food and drink businesses, as well as engaging key note speakers and trade stands. There was amazing energy in the room and it was great to connect with so many likeminded people from across the South West.
As well as participating in some of the panel discussions and workshop sessions, we used our stand to raise awareness of our People Planet Profit sustainability-themed events and wider business support opportunities. This included presenting our new People Planet Profit webpage, bringing together insights and resources from our past events (see link below).
We intend to continue to work with Food Drink Devon and local food and drink businesses to support the sector to grow and become more sustainable, including through further People Planet Profit events – please get in touch at info@devonfoodpartnership.org.uk if you have any suggestions or would like to get involved.
In the meantime, we’re glad to have had the opportunity to take part in Gather 2025 and are already looking forward to Gather 2026!
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Government makes food and farming announcements in June Spending Review
On Wednesday 11 June, Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her June Spending Review, setting the day-to-day budgets of government departments over the next three years. This included a number of announcements related to food and farming.
Free school meals are set to be extended to every child whose family receives Universal Credit, totalling around 500,000 children. The Government expects this will lift 100,000 children out of poverty.
Meanwhile, an average of £2.7 billion per year will be available for farming and nature recovery from 2026 to 2029. This includes a £100 million cut to farming and countryside programmes such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
Read the Agri-Food for Net Zero Network’s handy summary of what the Spending Review could mean for food and farming
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Online bookings now open for this summer’s Holiday Activities and Food programme
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is a Government-funded scheme providing activities and nutritional meals over the holidays for children aged five to 16 who receive benefits-related free school meals.
Parents and carers in the Devon County Council area can now book places on the programme over the summer holidays. There are over 100 holiday activity providers around Devon offering a wide range of activities and nutritious food.
Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council operate their own HAF programmes – please visit their websites for details.
Find out more about Devon County Council’s HAF offering and book your place
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Devon residents reminded to use their food waste caddies
Despite most households in Devon having a separate food waste collection, a study has found that nearly a third of black bin waste is food waste. The study also found that 79% of the food waste in Devon’s black bins could have been avoided, and 35% was still in its packaging.
Using your food waste caddy ensures food waste is processed to produce energy and a liquid fertiliser. And you don’t need to buy special compostable bags – you can just reuse any plastic or paper bag, such as an empty bread bag, salad bag, cereal bag, or frozen vegetable bag.
Further resources on reducing household food waste can be found on the Recycle Devon website.
Read more about using your food waste caddy
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Exeter Quayside Farmers’ Market
Piazza Terracina, Exeter Quay, Exeter
Saturday 21 June 09:00-13:00
The new Exeter Quayside Farmers’ Market launches this June! Supported by Food Exeter, Shillingford Organics, and Exeter City Council, this new market features over 20 traders and includes local produce, artisanal products, plants, and more. The market is planned to take place every third Saturday of the month until the end of the year.
Visit the Exeter Quayside Farmers' Market Instagram page
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Food Growing in Small Gardens and Containers
Alibi Garden at Theatre Alibi, Emmanuel Hall, Emmanuel Road, Exeter
Saturday 21 June 14:00-17:00
Join Clemence Scalbert of Zero Mile Gardens for a workshop exploring how city residents can grow abundance in small gardens and containers. The workshop will include discussions about types of growing space, the importance of soil, rotation, and companion planting, followed by refreshments and planting activities. There is a suggested donation of £10-£20 to help cover the costs of delivering the workshop.
Book your place at the Food Growing in Small Gardens and Containers workshop
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ADOPT Fund: Is it right for my farm?
Online webinar
Monday 23 June 18:00-19:00
This webinar has been set up by the Devon Agri-Tech Alliance as an opportunity for farmers in the South West to find out more about the newly launched ADOPT (Accelerating Development Of Practices and Technologies) fund from DEFRA and UKRI. Grants are for £50,000-£100,000 for projects of 6 months - 2 years. The webinar will feature Thomas Slattery, from UK Agri Tech Centre and an ADOPT fund Support Hub facilitator, who will provide a short overview of the fund followed by a Q&A.
Register for the DATA ADOPT Fund webinar
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Plant Prospects Workshop with Made in Hackney & Love Food CIC
St Thomas Community Food Hub, 98 Cowick Street, Exeter, EX4 1JF
Friday 4 July 10:00-14:00
The Plant Prospects Programme offers support to organisations, businesses, and civil society to evolve their offer to a more plant-centred eating approach. This FREE workshop is being run by Made in Hackney in partnership with Love Food CIC at St Thomas Community Food Hub. The workshops are fun, interactive and full of information with easy to implement ideas for every organisation.
Register your place at the Plant Prospects workshop
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Emergent Generation Visits the Apricot Centre & Martin Crawford’s Forest Garden
Apricot Centre, Huxhams Cross Farm, Dartington, Totnes, TQ9 6AA
Saturday 19 July 09:45-16:00
If you are 18-35 and passionate about sustainability in the food system, this unique and inspiring event is for you! Join Emergent Generation on a visit to the Apricot Centre and Martin Crawford’s Forest School to learn more about agroecology and regenerative thinking, connect with like-minded people, gain confidence, and share knowledge. This event is for members of Emergent Generation only, which is free to join on the website.
Book your tickets to the Emergent Generation event
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