The challenge of delivering sustainable agriculture while also meeting the ever-growing global demand for food will by the focus of next month’s Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) conference at the East of England Showground, Peterborough.
“Global agriculture’s capacity to meet the world’s growing food demand is being stretched at the expense of the environment,” said Rabobank International’s Suzanne Pera, one of several high profile speakers who will address the November 12 conference.
“A holistic long-term approach may be the key, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution. I will be asking the question ‘What does it take to shift farmers’ focus away from yield maximisation and towards input optimisation?’.”
Cool Farm Alliance’s Richard Heathcote, another conference speaker, added that with so many sustainability challenges to be faced it was critical that we, as an industry, understand the impact of everything we do.
Conference delegates will also hear from AHDB chairman, Peter Kendall, who will outline the organisation’s ambition to provide farmers and growers with the tools they need to make the most of growing domestic and global demand.
Additional contributions will be made by Defra Minister, George Eustice; NFU President, Meurig Raymond; UKIP MEP, Stuart Agnew, and FEFAC President, Ruud Tijssens.
Full details and booking forms are on the AIC website.