News

RHE Global’s food webinar, held on 31 March, saw ‘The Future of …’ series get off to a great start. The aim of the series is to link prominent experts with professionals working in related fields, to foster discussion of some of the major issues facing our profession today.  

This first interactive webinar chaired by RHE’s Tony Lewis, heard from leading food policy academic, Prof. Tim Lang; Sue Davies, Head of Consumer Rights and Food Policy at Which?; Kath Dalmeny, Chief Executive of Sustain; Ian Andrews, Head of Environmental Health at the London Borough of Greenwich; and Gary McFarlane of CIEH. All spoke eloquently of the huge challenges facing the UK in terms of farming, food production and food control; however, the common issue that clouded it all was one of food poverty. Whilst it was clear that the broad environmental health profession has much to offer on this subject, somewhat notably, Gary McFarlane was at pains to remind delegates that, above all else, food poverty in the fifth richest country in the world is a matter that we simply cannot accept.

Environmental health has both the opportunity and skills to be part of the solution at national and local levels, and while the theme of poverty – in terms of subject matter – was perhaps not the most uplifting, the reaction to the event has been positive, with one attendee describing it as being ‘interesting, thought-provoking, poignant and moving’.

We look forward to seeing some of you at the next one…The Future of Housing. The date and line-up are to be announced shortly.