Inspiring speakers and thought provoking conversations at the annual South East Future of Farming Conference 2024

Last night, we hosted the second South East Future of Farming in association with the CLA and Virgin Money. The event welcomed farmers, landowners, and organisations from across the region with a clear focus on profitability and productivity in a sustainable way. 

The conference, welcomed by Brian Richardson, Head of Agriculture for Virgin Money. Followed by Emily Norton, conference chair, and farmer, rural policy advisor brilliantly guided the speakers with challenging questions on the future of farming, food security, climate change, sustainability and how to utilise technology.

With great thanks to the speakers;

• John Gummer, Rt Hon The Lord Deben - Former Chair of UK Independent Committee on Climate Change
• Joe Stanley ARAgS - Head of Sustainable Farming at The Allerton Project
•  Eleanor Gilbert - Young Farmer and BBC Countryfile Countryside Champion 2022
• Flavian Obiero - Farmer, Chef and Apprentice Butcher

And big thanks to the education workshops led by industry specialists;

• Keston Williams, Chief Operating Officer at Barfoots on 'tech, food production and sustainability'
• James Dempster, Managing Director of Fox & Bear on 'marketing and branding'
• George Brown, Farmer on 'wealth creation pathways through dairy farming'
• James Hibbert, Deputy Principal and Rodney Phair, Farm Manager at Plumpton College, on 'carbon assessment and sustainability journey'

Food security is linked to our environment's health, soils, water and natural capital systems. Policy and political leadership must reflect this in long-term policies and planning.

Brian Richardson, Head of Agriculture at Virgin Money, commented; 'there is very much a wait-and-see attitude from farmers. However, they also have a clear focus on productivity and efficiency. Farmers are good at adapting to what is being asked of them - but they need to know what the pathway looks like, which is the current challenge.'

We would like to say a huge thank you to all who made this event an absolute success, and we are already counting down for next year's South East Future of Farming conference.