There is lots planned for this year's Wells Food Festival on Sunday 12 October. Of course, the finest local food and drink artisan producers will be there, showcasing their fare, but if you are keen to dig a little deeper into the food experience, then a trip to the Food for Thought marquee in the Recreation Ground will provide you with something to chew over.

'We are really excited by how Food for Thought is shaping up this year,' says June MacFarlane who is overseeing the marquee. 'In previous years, the focus has been primarily on the social issues surrounding food, but we are delighted to introduce Sustainability and Innovation into the mix for 2025 to create a really interesting and thought-provoking food experience for visitors.'

Local horticulturalist, author and the pioneer of modern no-dig and organic soil management in the UK, Charles Dowding will be attending. His book Compost - Transform Waste into New Life focuses on how to use kitchen and garden waste to make homemade compost gold. The subject of soil health is also relevant for Woodland Horticulture, Somerset's leading supplier of soil conditioners. They offer a wide range of all things earthy, including green waste material which is shredded and composted to produce a crumbly, easy to handle material.

At the forefront of food innovation, prepare to be amazed by the Clean Food Group from the University of Bath. Pioneering scientific research is taking place to look at how to provide healthier sustainable product choices that will have a positive impact on the planet, for example, developing sustainable alternatives to oils and fats, such as palm oil which is a significant driver of deforestation.

Likewise, hot on the heels of winning the Waste Not Want Not Award from The Grocer, Beyond Belief Brewing Co will be explaining how the company turns surplus and waste carbohydrates into beer. Expect to see pasta, bread and flapjacks put to a new use.

Community is still at the heart of Food for Thought and so there will be representatives from key local companies and charities such as SWEDA, supporting people with eating disorders in the South West. There are an estimated 1.25 million people living with eating disorders in the UK, with a disproportionate number of young people affected. Despite the numbers, services are severely underfunded - SWEDA is determined to be there for the people who fall through the gaps.

Local SW representatives from FareShare will be there. The charity aims to relieve food poverty and reduce food waste by taking good quality surplus food from across the food industry and distributing it to nearly 8,000 charities and community groups.

The team from Root Connections from Radstock will be on hand, talking about the seasonal veg boxes they supply with produce from their community market garden in Radstock and the work they are doing to end homelessness in Mendip.

Meanwhile, the Shepton Mallet Community Fridge is also tackling the problem of saving good food from going to waste on a very local level. Keen to highlight that it is not a food bank, the volunteers want every member of the community to use the fridge, freezer and larder and stop good food from ending up in landfill. They receive regular donations of food from local shops and supermarkets looking to clear their shelves, and there is also an opportunity to contribute to the fridge if you have a glut of produce from your garden or allotment.

Come along to the Food for Thought marquee in the Recreation Ground at Wells Food Festival to find out more. Sunday 12 October, 10.30am – 4.30pm.