Across the UK, food partnerships are helping to deliver practical, joined-up responses to the climate crisis. However, this contribution can often go unrecognised.

This new report brings together examples from across the network to show how partnerships are:

• Supporting sustainable and agroecological farming
• Reducing food waste and closing resource loops
• Promoting healthier, climate-friendly diets
• Building resilience to shocks and supply disruptions
• Strengthening governance and collaboration for long-term change

👉 Read the report 'A Local Force for Climate Action' here

Are you a farmer exploring diversification, innovation or regenerative approaches? Or are you looking to strengthen the foundations of your farm business by tackling some of the challenges you’re facing? Whatever your situation, you could get support through the Agri Innovation programme.

For farmers in West Devon, South Hams and Teignbridge: If you have an innovative idea for your farm business and would like support to put your plans into action, then we can help.

Starting with an initial farm visit we can help develop an action plan for your project and support you to access specialist advice in areas such as carbon audits, soil testing, technology trials and more.

You can find full details and submit your expression of interest on the BIP website. Spaces are limited and subject to the suitability of your intended project.

For farmers in East Devon, Mid Devon and Teignbridge: We are offering free support with any aspect of your farm business including an in-depth review and detailed, practical action plan to tackle any challenges and explore potential opportunities to strengthen your farm business and plan for a more resilient future.

Support can cover a wide range of areas, including business planning and financial management, soil health and nutrient management, farm infrastructure improvements and more.

This support is open to all but spaces are quite limited, so find out more on the BIP website and get in touch.

The Apricot Centre in South Devon have lots of new land-based courses of varying durations and levels, many of which are FREE.

Funded by Devon County Council and UK Government, applications are open for:

• Level 2: Regenerative land-based systems
• Level 3 & level 4: Agroecological system design

To take part you need to be self-employed and live in Devon or Cornwall, or, employed and your employer be based in Devon. Taking place across 12 weeks, for a day each week, you will cover a variety of topics from soil health to business management.

You will find other agricultural courses available at The Apricot Centre, please see their website following this link: Apply for your free place on regenerative agriculture or agroecology Skills Bootcamp now

If you are part of a constituted not-for-profit organisation, you can apply for a grant of up to £50,000 per acre to purchase land for a new allotment site. Individuals can also apply.

The funding is to be used for allotment sites that will be managed by the community and have a strong focus on environmental stewardship.

Find out how to apply for the New Allotment Site Fund on Green Allotments website

A new £20,000 prize aimed at transforming food, farming, and health systems. The judges include the environmentalist and financier Ben Goldsmith;
founder and CEO of the Sustainable Food Trust Patrick Holden CBE; Josiah Meldrum from
Hodmedod, the Great British Bean Project and farmer and co-host of Farmarama Abby Rose.

Building on the UK government’s recent calls for a health food revolution, The Food System Prize
is all about encouraging innovation in this area. It’s open to new or existing businesses with great
ideas or solutions which reimagine how we grow, distribute and eat food. It’s also open to individuals or start-ups specialising in anything from soil health to the health of communities.

Find out more about applying for the food systems prize here

South Devon Food Hub, Totnes, TQ9 6PW

Wednesday 27 August 10:00-14:00

Are you one of the 1 in 5 people working in the agri-food supply chain?

Devon Food Partnership is collaborating with Food Drink Devon for Mmmake Your Mark, a new campaign to celebrate working in food. We will welcome Amie Burke who will be explaining what the campaign is about on its launch date! Our event includes guidance for businesses on opportunities for upskilling teams, recruitment paths and we will hear from industry inspirers including Riverford Organic, Food Drink Devon, Exeter University, Apricot Centre, Visit Devon and South Devon College.

Find out more about the Mmmake Your Mark event here and book your free space

Book your space for Seed Saving Skills workshop Zero Mile Gardens, Theatre Alibi, EX4 1EJ

Thursday 11th September, 2pm - 4pm

Learn some simple skills to save your own seeds, save money, and grow strong plants! 

Online

Thursday 18th September, 11am - 12pm

There’s a growing buzz around local food. Government wants to procure it and consumers increasingly want to buy it. Demand for local food is strong but the sector faces enormous structural barriers to scaling up and out.

Over the past two years, Sustain and other partners consulted hundreds of local food system actors to ask: what does the local food sector really need to grow? What does this mean for governments, for retailers, for investors and for the sector itself? And what do we do next?

Join us as we share insights on how we can scale the sector for security, economic and placemaking benefits.

The session is aimed at producers, retailers, supply chain actors, local and combined authorities, Food Partnerships and others with an interest in local food.

Register for webinar 'How can we unlock the power of local food?' here

Barton Lane, Shillingford Abbot, Exeter, EX2 9QQ

Sunday 21st September, 11am-3pm

Shillingford Organics welcome you to the farm to celebrate the Soil Association's Organic September on Sunday 21st September. A fun event for the family!

Find out more and get tickets for Shillingford Organics farm open day. 

The Barn at South Milton, Kingsbridge, TQ7 3JX

Friday 3rd October, 5pm-10pm

Last year, the Bioregional Learning Centre ran a Learning Journey based around Climate Adaptation in South Devon. Food was a clear theme - from farming, to fishing, to local food action.

This event is inspired by a Sardinian tradition called La Rasgioni, which offered communities a way to share different perspectives over a shared meal. You’ll enjoy a good meal showcasing the breadth of South Devon’s produce, connect with your neighbours, and hear perspectives from others in the region - some familiar, others less so. Together, we’ll consider where we might find common ground and shared purpose, with the help of a community “judge”, a jury selected at random on the night and audience facilitators.

 For tickets and information on the Bioregional Banquet click here

Sandy Park, Exeter

Thursday 27 November 09:30-15:30

Designed specifically for school teachers, facilities managers, and sustainability leads who are passionate about driving positive environmental change within their institutions.

This new event will share invaluable insights and practical tools for making your school more sustainable - sharing initiatives that not only help the environment but also save your school money and reduce its carbon footprint.

Book your space at the Sustainability conference: Empowering schools towards a sustainable future 

St Sidwell’s Community Centre is an independent community centre in the heart of Exeter giving a warm welcome regardless of background, ability or circumstance. We offer a wide programme of activities, events and services for the local community, such as our community café, bakery and garden. We also offer affordable meeting rooms and venue hire; free ESOL classes; one-to-one support and drop-in services; and volunteering and work-experience opportunities across all areas of our work. 

St Sidwell’s Community Centre currently seeking to appoint a new Chair of Trustees to work in partnership with the Centre Manager, Board of Trustees and staff to ensure that the charity is working to sustain the highest standards of governance, meets our strategic aims, and operates in line with our core values. We’d love to hear from you if you think you might be interested in joining us. You can find more information about the role of Chair of St Sidwells here: St-Sidwells-Community-Centre-Chair-Recruitment-Pack-2025.pdf