A public debate on the future of food and farming in Northumberland, is going to be held in Hexham in June.

This discussion, scheduled for Saturday, June 1, at St Mary’s Church Hall, Hexham from 11am to 12.30pm, centres around the viability of continuing farming in the region in its current form.

The event is co-organised by Tynedale Transformed and Hexham Debates, and will include organic and agroecological farming researcher, Dr Julia Cooper.

Dr Cooper plans to argue that transformative changes in farming methods are necessary globally to sustainably feed an anticipated population of nine and a half billion people by 2050, reduce greenhouse gases, and enhance public health.

Dr Cooper heads the Organic Research Centre, which supports methods to combat soil degradation, enrich food quality, redefine farming production prorities, and allow for fairer supply chains.

Additional speakers include local farmer Sue Seymour, and Peter Samson, the operator of Hexham Farmers’ market.

Hexham Town Councillor Penny Grennan, an organiser of the event, will present on her project 'Grow Hexham', an endeavour to connect gardeners with idle gardens to enhance local produce levels.

Ms Grennan said: "The future of food and farming is such a massive subject.

"It encompasses so many of the major issues affecting our world.

"Climate change, sustainability, feeding people, nutrition, health, economic models."

Ms Grennan added: "We want people to come along, hear our speakers, contribute their own ideas and understand how we can change things regionally, locally and individually."