13 Mar 2019

Norfolk Farming Conference provides farmers with hope

The current anxieties and challenges facing British agriculture were forgotten as hundreds of farmers gathered to hear industry leaders and experts debate some of the lucrative opportunities available to the sector at this year’s Norfolk Farming Conference. 

The event itself, has seen its popularity and attendance grow year on year, offering a diverse panel of speakers, and championing of progressive forward-thinking solutions for a changing industry, and this year was no different. 

President of the NFU, Minette Batters, was the first speaker and offered a passionate reminder of the ambiguity facing British farmers as the Brexit deadline approaches.

“We live in extraordinary times,” said Ms Batters. “Never before has the business of farming faced such uncertainty. This is a time of enormous risk, but it’s also about change and opportunity. It’s right and proper that we plan for our future.”

Ms Batters warned that a no-deal Brexit would undermine British production to a catastrophic level. “An obliteration of the tariff wall would be the single biggest crisis for our industry. You cannot just open your doors to the EU, you open your doors to the rest of the world – effectively, to the ‘cheap food’ brigade.”

Jon Duffy, CEO at AF, who hosted the event commented, “The conference gave a clear message of possibility and ripe opportunities for British agriculture. Despite honest warnings about the potential destruction caused by Brexit, leading industry figures are clear that the demand for quality food production will only increase in the future.

“Each speaker, focusing on different aspects of a diverse sector, were unified in their central message: the future may be unclear, but there are great opportunities that British agriculture is well-placed to seize. A positive and informative day.”

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