Had an absolutely lovely day in Oxford on the 22nd of April 2026 attending what is fast becoming one of the highlights of my year, the 2026 LEAP (Livestock, environment, and people) conference, and presenting my poster about my project about healthy and sustainable food in the 31 Cambridge colleges.

Much like last year, the day offered a plethora of exciting and consistently high-quality contributions from a diverse range of contributors presenting on their research relating to the production and consumption of food. Speakers covered subjects such as what the key challenges are to transitioning an dynamic, complex, chaotic, and messy food system to one that supports a healthier population, climate, and ecosystems; the potential of matched menus in canteen settings, and increased meat-free options in hospital settings; barriers and drivers for shifting consumption of animal and plant-based dairy products; the challenges of achieving food sales that support the EAT Lancet dietary reference in European retailers; alternative protein innovation; and the ethics of a future food system - and also the 28 amazing poster presentations we were treated to.

Reflecting on the discourse throughout the day I experienced a clear shift from last year away from sometimes quite binary and reductive meat or no meat narratives, towards talks and discussions incorporating a much broader range of voices, visions, and epistemological perspectives. I also feel that this year there was much greater engagement with the role industry could/should play in transition and transformation - including some of the big players and organisations that previously would likely have been unmentionable in such conversations, certainly for me... Perhaps these observations also reflect my own shifting positionality over this period.

The most enjoyable aspect of the day though was the chance to meet some more of my heroes whose work has been so meaningful for me - and catch up with lots of old friends and make some new ones.

Roll on LEAP 2027!!!

A lovely afternoon talking about my research and about how mindsets shape climate action with Miriam Remshared in the David Attenborough Building not he 13th of February 2026.  Slides and recording can be found here: https://www.globalfood.cam.ac.uk/events/feeding-change-how-mindsets-and-meals-shape-climate-action 

I was fortunate enough to host this panel discussion with three incredible speakers at lovely Pembroke College.  Edie, Maddy and Polina spoke to the subject matter with each their perspective and take on it - and then engaged in discussion with each other and the assembled audience.  Chatham House rules were observed so sadly there will be no summary or recording of proceedings, but we are already talking about part 2, because we could have kept going for at least the whole evening!

So stay tuned and hopefully we will reassemble in the autumn to pick up on this crucial subject matter.

Really enjoyable day, and opportunity to present my research and engage with the panel.  

And delighted to get awarded the prize for the 2nd best presentation on the day - the first prize rightly went to Rosalind Mackey for her amazing presentation about butterfly banks and other climate adaptation measures for invertebrates.

Delighted to have been part of the panel of contributors to this excellent event.

We had a fabulous and wide-ranging discussion about all things food  and sustainability.

My contribution should soon be available here: https://www.youtube.com/@cambridgesustainablefood3395/featured 

Brilliant day presenting the interrim findings of my research to a highly engaged audience at Darwin college, and talking widely about healthy and sustainable food.