By Ele Forster, HGFP Project Officer
The Highland Climate Conference was held on the 8th October 2025, and was a fantastic opportunity to connect with inspiring people, share ideas, and raise the profile of the Highland Good Food Partnership (HGFP). Our chair, Katie Andrews did a wonderful job representing us, and it was lovely to see our trustee, Sarah Bowyer there too.
Connecting and Learning
One of the highlights was learning more about the NorthWest 2045 Regional Land Use Partnership and their community-led approach to shaping a shared vision for the future. Their focus on catalysing change – by sparking and facilitating conversations rather than delivering projects directly – resonates strongly with our own mission.
It also made me reflect on the potential of building stronger networks of well-connected area partners. Organisations and individuals who share our values and can help us deepen our impact across the Highlands. Strengthening links with Community Planning Partnerships could be part of this approach too.
Insights from Highland Adapts
The team at Highland Adapts shared their latest publications, including Circular Economy Practices for Resilient Supply Chains and Economic Assessment of Climate Change Impacts. They’re currently developing a new piece of work – Risk and Opportunity Assessment – which they’ll be workshopping in December. We’ve signed up to take part and will be exploring how to bring a food focus into that discussion.
Amplifying Voices
A powerful theme throughout the conference was the importance of including young people and minority voices in the climate conversation. It’s not just about representation, it’s about ensuring meaningful involvement in shaping the solutions.
Celebrating Collaboration
Katie’s presentation went brilliantly, and it was heartening to hear HGFP mentioned positively by other speakers during the Q&A. There were also well-deserved shoutouts for the Highland Community Waste Partnership, recognised as a great example of collaborative work delivering real benefits on the ground.
Final Thoughts
The conference was full of insights, both about the climate and about how to run engaging, impactful events. And of course, the food was lovely too! Overall, it was an energising reminder of the power of connection, conversation, and collaboration in driving real change here in the Highlands.