A 1940s-themed dinner will start the Women's Food and Farming Union (WFU) national conference in Devon.

The 'Food for Thought 2012' event, organised by Devon WFU at Bicton College, East Budleigh, between April 11 and 13, will see guest speaker Sue Virgin arrive in uniform with her 1940s jeep and talk about ' Women's Land Army then and now'. The WFU is raising money for a permanent memorial to members of the Women's Land Army.

Lady Byford, WFU patron will open the conference, University of Exeter professor and director of the Centre for Rural Policy Research Michael Winter will make the keynote speech, followed by Richard Ashworth MEP. Caroline Drummond, chief executive of LEAF, who will address food security, sustainability and CAP reform. Nick Cooper, of OaK BioEnergy, will talk about farming without fossil fuels.

Also attending will be celebrated Devon cheese-maker Mary Quicke and Bicton principal David Henley.

The programme includes a visit to the newly opened teaching facility, the Bicton Environmental and Renewable Technologies Hub (EaRTH).

Prof Christianne Glossop, chief veterinary officer for Wales, and Dr Marina Morgan microbiologist, will look at issues surrounding animal and human health and Neil Parish MP the global perspective. Other speakers include South Devon farmer Richard Haddock on fair trade, YFC ambassador Helen Camp, and Howard Petch, of Compassion UK.

Rosemary Berry, Devon WFU chairman, said: 'The event is open to non-members and is not exclusively for women — men are welcome.'

For more information contact Rosemary Berry [email protected]">[email protected] phone 01884 32320 or online at http://www.wfu.org.uk">www.wfu.org.uk