Overcoming Barriers in the food industry with Bethan Grylls

Description

Sustainability, food safety, food security and a failure to meet recruitment targets, not to mention the aftershocks of a pandemic: The UK food industry is fighting fires on all fronts. Drawing on the resources of its talented and passionate workforce is the only way to tackle them all. On this episode of the Oh For Food’s Sake podcast, we talk to the brilliant Bethan Grylls, editor of the Food Manufacture magazine, about the future of the food industry.

Bethan gives us a rundown of her varied career which included stints as a writer and then a teacher before she started writing for the food industry. She shares her perspective on some of the massive challenges that the industry is facing at the moment and talks about how she intends to face them head-on in her position as the editor of Food Manufacture.

We get an exclusive peek at the programme for the upcoming Food Security Week, where experts from across the industry will pitch their best ideas on how to help more people have access to better quality, sustainably grown food. Listen out for Bethan’s efforts to make the food industry a more appealing career option for the next generation and for details about her happy cat family!

As soon as you listen to this episode, you’ll hear how much we loved talking with Bethan about the ins and outs of working in the food industry. If her outlook inspired you, share this episode with a colleague and don’t forget to follow along with the Food Security Week events. And if you’re enjoying the podcast, drop us a rating or review to let us know!

Timestamps

[1:25] Welcome to our special guest, Bethan Grylls!

[3:15] How Bethan’s career led her to becoming the editor of Food Manufacture

[7:25] Believe the hype: Food industry exceptionalism is true

[9:40] Bethan explains some of the challenges she’s overcome in her personal life

[17:26] “The fire triangle”: The three major challenges in the food industry today

[22:00] The vicious cycle of intense agriculture in the UK

[25:53] What’s the food industry’s response to climate change?

[28:54] “A massive, massive issue”: The food industry’s recruitment problem

[33:46] Can you have a flexible job in the food industry?

[36:09] Making the food industry an appealing career choice for Gen Z

[38:38] Bethan’s plans for the future of Food Manufacture