Events, Affairs, and Happenings Around the Globe

It’s March madness! No, not college basketball, it’s a slew of interesting upcoming farming and food events from around the globe. The best part about the one that tops our list this month is that you don’t have to drive, fly or even walk to get there. It’s online! The second best part is the cost. It’s free!

The Sustainable Small Farm Summit is an online conference where you’ll get the lowdown on everything from mushroom cultivation to soil management to growing tropical plants indoors for profit. You can tune in via webcast, Skype, or phone.
When? March 18-21
Where? Online
Cost? Free
http://www.smallfarmsummit.org/

The Virginia Agritourism Conference in Staunton, Virginia, sponsored by the Virginia Cooperative Extension, is a two-day event where attendees will hear from experts on the ins and outs of getting more tourist dollars to the farm sector.
When? March 10 & 11
Where? Stonewall Jackson Hotel; 24 S Market Street; Staunton, VA
Cost? $95 a day or $135 for both days
http://www.ext.vt.edu/topics/agriculture/agritourism/files/program.pdf

If you’re in London, England, check out Milk.Tea. Bread., a series of debates on these three mainstays of the English diet, and learn all about the history, science and politics of these products.
When? March 11, 18, and 25
Where? Borough Market,1 Cathedral Street, SE1 1DE
Cost? £15 for each event that includes the debate and all food and drink, along with tastings from Borough Market traders.
http://eatdrinktoast.com/events

Columbia University’s Earth Institute has a free webinar March 12 called “America’s Water: Partnering Science with Industry to Find a Way Forward.” The program aims “to build a network of academic institutions, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and private industry to develop a research agenda that will inform water infrastructure improvements in the United States through innovative management solutions, new technologies and new policies,” according to the university.
When? March 12
Where? Online
Cost? Free
http://www.earthinstitute.columbia.edu/events/view/77219

The 8th annual Nutritional Therapy Association Conference is being held in Vancouver, Washington. The event is open to nutritional practitioners, health care providers and those interested in current nutritional topics.
When? March 13-15
Where? Hilton Vancouver, Washington 301 West 6th Street Vancouver, WA
Cost? $150 per day or $375 for all three days
http://nta-conference.com/

Eat, Pray, Law: A Food Forum, presented by the Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon, explores food law and policy “from the farm to the fork” with issues that include food labeling, urban agriculture and food justice.
When? March 13
Where? Lewis & Clark Law School10015 S.W. Terwilliger Boulevard MSC 51 Portland, Oregon
Cost? $50, $25 for students
https://law.lclark.edu/programs/environmental_and_natural_resources_law/food-law-forum/

If you’re lucky enough to be in the Cayman Islands, it’s Slow Food Day on March 14. The event at Camana Bay includes a community farmers market featuring culinary demonstrations and tastings, followed by a outdoor dinner featuring several great female chefs of the farm-to-table movement.
When? March 14
Where? Market Street, Cayman Islands
Cost? The dinner is CI$120.
http://www.camanabay.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Slow-Food-Day-2015_web.pdf

The Third Global Science Conference, titled “Climate Smart Agriculture 2015,” is being held in Montpellier, France, and will bring scientists, scholars and others concerned with global climate change, agriculture and food security together to address research issues and exchange information on these issues.
When? March 16-18
Where? Le Corum Palais des CongrÁ¨s – Opéra Berlioz, Esplanade Charles De Gaulle, 34000 Montpellier, France
Cost? 500 €
http://ccafs.cgiar.org/3rd-global-science-conference-%E2%80%9Cclimate-smart-agriculture-2015%E2%80%9D#.VPYqDbPF9dp

Wivi, the Central Coast Wine Industry Conference and Tradeshow, is this month. The event is the largest wine industry conference and trade show on California’s Central Coast and is a showcase for new technology and techniques for the region’s wine and wine grape industry.
When? March 17 & 18
Where? The Paso Robles Event Center 110 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA
Cost? $30 per day
http://wivicentralcoast.com/

Good Food Festival & Conference
The longest-running sustainable and local food trade show in the United States is in Chicago, March 19 to 21. The first day is dedicated to helping food and farm businesses gain access to investment and includes a Financing Fair. Day two focuses on policy, helping producers scale up, issues concerning school food, and helping businesses gain access to new markets.

Saturday is the Good Food Festival, featuring more than 100 exhibitors, plus workshops, panels and a master class in baking. The event is put on by FamilyFarmed.org, a national organization that helps build regional, sustainable food systems.
When? March 19 to 21
Where? The University of Illinois at Chicago Forum, 725 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, Illinois
Cost? $250 for all access pass for all three days prior to event, $300 at the door. Various prices for individual days and events.
http://www.goodfoodfestivals.com/

Farm To Table Pittsburgh’s Local Food Conference is March 27 and 28. The conference provides consumers with networking and educational opportunities and includes cooking demos and information on nutrition, gardening and health.
When? March 27 & 28
Where? David L. Lawrence Convention Center 1000 Fort Duquesne Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA
Cost? $15 a day or $25 for both days
http://farmtotablepa.com/conference

Got an upcoming farm or food event? Let us know: calendar@modfarmer.com