Heads of food retail, food manufacturing and the UK supply chain will tackle tightening global food supplies, unprecedented global food demand and the dramatic increase in food prices at the fifth English Farming & Food Partnership (EFFP) conference on October 28.

Volatile market dynamics are forcing businesses to reassess their business strategies and many speakers will offer their prognoses for the markets over the coming years and will discuss just how their businesses are responding to the challenges.

Speakers include: Ian El-Mokadem, group managing director of the Compass Group, who will give an insight into supply chain implications for the foodservice sector; Peter Barr, chairman of Vion UK, who will discuss how the Vion business, following the recent acquisition of Grampian, operates in the context of a global market; and Peter Marks, chief executive of The Co-operative Group, who will talk about the sound business model of ethical supply chains and the acquisition of the Somerfield business which, he says, will act as “rocket-fuel” for the Co-operative’s food business.

Adding context to the discussions will be Professor John Beddington, the government’s chief scientific officer, who will offer the policy-makers’ perspective on food security: Siôn Roberts, chief executive of EFFP, who will suggest how businesses might respond to market conditions to capture continued value from the UK food chain; and Philip Moody, managing director of Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance, who will bring a timely exploration of how businesses might address the funding challenges and accessing capital for business change.

Representing the restaurant’s role in the supply chain, chef John Torode will explain the ‘eating out’ trade’s demands of UK food producers.

EFFP chairman Steve Ellwood said: “It has been a period of unprecedented change where many food and farming businesses have had to readdress their strategies and change well-established practices. Chances are that over the next year, the rate of change will not slow and many other businesses will be forced to adapt or risk the consequences of an uncertain future, which is why we have made it the topic for the conference.”

The conference will commence with coffee and registration at 10am at the Plaisterer’s Hall, London and will close at 16.30. For more information please visit www.effp.com

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