From South American cattle ranches to school lunch tins, the story of corned beef is a story of painful environmental realities in our food system, especially deforestation. Corned beef is deeply embedded in the cultural memory of Wales (which eats more of it per capita than any other nation) but a peek behind the tin reveals something more disturbing: a highly industrialised global food system that prioritises cost and convenience over sustainability, seasonality and local resilience.
This event brings together farmers, historians, chefs and youth activists to explore how a legacy food tied to colonial trade and wartime scarcity became a national staple and what it would mean to reimagine that dish in a deforestation-free world. Can we honour the emotional pull of pasties and hash, while responding to the urgent concerns of a generation facing forest loss, climate breakdown and the need to rethink what we grow and eat?