Mash Direct, the award-winning Northern Ireland food producer, has partnered with W5, the region’s leading science and discovery centre, to launch a pilot ‘Field to Fork’ education programme – an engaging initiative designed to help children understand where their food comes from and how sustainable farming shapes our environment and future.
The pilot scheme, being delivered across primary schools in Newtownards, Bangor and Comber, offers a hands-on, curriculum-linked experience that explores the journey of food from Field to Fork. It connects children with local industries and highlights the role of sustainable farming in shaping healthier futures.
Pupils gain a unique experience that traces food from the soil to the plate, exploring the growing ground, soil health, climate and environmental impact, helping children connect science with everyday food and build respect for nature and sustainable food production.
Sponsored by Mash Direct and delivered by W5’s expert education team, the free outreach programme will engage with around 600 pupils from ten local primary schools, with a particular focus on areas of higher social deprivation. The interactive sessions are carefully linked to the curriculum and designed to spark curiosity, promote healthier eating choices, and foster environmental responsibility.
Jack Hamilton, CEO of Mash Direct, said: “We’re proud to support the ‘Field to Fork’ pilot and help educate the next generation about where their food comes from – from the soil beneath our feet to the meals on our tables. Sustainability and community are at the heart of everything we do. By sharing six generations of our family’s farming experience, we want to inspire children to understand the vital role of farming, the importance of sustainable agriculture, soil health, and how caring for the environment and our climate helps build a healthier, greener future for everyone.’’
The ‘Field to Fork’ pilot features a variety of interactive, practical activities designed to bring science and sustainability to life, including:
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Growing vegetables from seed and studying how soil conditions and climate affect growth.
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Cooking and tasting traditional potato bread.
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Exploring the Eatwell Plate to understand balanced nutrition.
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Investigating food-miles and sustainable farming practices.
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Creating video stories to capture and share key learnings.
Elaine Steele, Education Officer at W5, added: “This collaboration with Mash Direct helps us make science real, relevant and fun. By linking classroom learning to local food production and sustainability, pupils can explore how food is grown, processed and brought to their tables. They’ll learn where their food comes from and how making healthy, informed choices can positively impact both their wellbeing and the planet. It’s about inspiring a generation to think critically about food, farming, and the environment.”
If successful, the partners plan to expand the ‘Field to Fork’ programme across Northern Ireland, giving more schools the opportunity to experience this innovative approach to food education.
According to research by the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), nearly one in five primary-school children believe that fish fingers come from chicken, and close to a third think cheese comes from plants — underscoring a widespread lack of understanding of food origins. FoodManufacture.co.uk+1
Furthermore, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) reports that after using its “Food – a fact of life” resources, 85% of pupils were more informed about where food comes from. ahdb.org.uk
As a pilot scheme, this initiative is sowing the seeds for a broader educational rollout – one that could transform how young people understand food, health and sustainability from the field, all the way to their fork.
