Where commercial meets ethical: celebrating our 20th year of Business Forums

Where commercial meets ethical: celebrating our 20th year of Business Forums

In 2026, our Business Forum community is exploring where commercial meets ethical: opportunities for ethical approaches in an unethical world. In this third dinner meeting of 2026, we will ask ‘Ethics under pressure: when costs rise, what gives?’

With costs on the rise and food price inflation starting to kick in, how can agri-food companies hold onto their values? What needs to give, if anything? Or are there ways to pivot and adapt, to mitigate impending cost increases?

We’re holding this special Business Forum at the Orangery Tottenham Court Road, which includes a vertical farm from Square Mile Farms, providing ultra-fresh produce for the restaurant. We’re marking the start of our 20th year of Business Forums and are having a celebratory meal with Business Forum members and invited guests.

This special in-person dinner meeting will provide an opportunity for participants to:

• Celebrate our 20^th year of Business Forums, including having hosted around 250 expert speakers over that time
• Experience ‘food metres’ and learn about how a vertical farm works
• Assess the likely implications of rising costs and food price inflation
• Explore opportunities to maintain, and even strengthen, values and character, in the face of difficult headwinds

Our expert speakers will be announced soon. The discussion will be chaired by Dan Crossley, Executive Director of the Food Ethics Council. A tour of the vertical farm will be given by Patrick Dumas, Founder and CEO, Square Mile Farms.

Details of how to sign-up will be available soon. Note – this is initially for Business Forum members only. If you’re not a Business Forum member and are interested in learning how to take up membership, please contact our Exec Director, Dan Crossley

Image: from a previous Business Forum dinner event