Why is food production in the UK so dependent on migrant workers?

What rights do these workers have and how are these affected by government policy and supermarket dominance?

All these questions and more were explored with keen interest by specialists from the field of global development and beyond.

While someone unaware of the issues may have struggled with some details, the enthusiasm of both speakers and audience kept the debate lively and interesting.

Topical references to Nick Broomfield's docu-drama on the Morecombe Bay cocklepickers, the burgeoning profits of supermarket giants and increasing consumer demand for ethically produced goods, demonstrated just how relevant these questions are in the UK and globally.

The second in what promises to be a fascinating series of talks.