The East of England Farming Conference (EoEFC) is excited to announce a solid line-up of speakers for its fourth annual farming conference on November 1.
This year’s event, organised by the East of England Agricultural Society, is titled ‘Fit for the Future’ and is crafted to challenge industry business leaders to understand, embrace and adapt to change in the coming years.
Andrew Fearne, professor of value chain management at University East Anglia, will open the event as the keynote speaker.
Decision makers
Heading up the day’s events, political heavyweights and industry leaders will discuss some of the industry’s biggest challenges in a session chaired by Emily Norton.
Panellists include:
- Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Labour MP for Workington, Sue Hayman;
- Conservative MP and Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee Neil Parish;
- NFU vice chairman Stuart Roberts; and
- Founder and chief executive of the Sustainable Food Trust Patrick Holden CBE.
Ground-breakers
The second session, entitled ‘Ground-breakers’ will introduce innovative and pioneering leading experts from a range of industries, including:
- Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) strategic farmer, Brian Barker;
- Hertfordshire farmer and director of Groundswell farming conference John Cherry;
- Consultant bio-agronomist for PlantWorks Ltd, Jamie Stotzka; and
- William Wells, founder and chief executive of Hummingbird Technologies.
Risk-takers
The third, and final session, “Risk-takers” will welcome an inspirational line-up of farmers, business owners and entrepreneurs.
It is set to include:
- Stephen Jones, founder and director of The British Quinoa Company;
- Emily and Guy French, Foxes Farm Produce; and
- Wil Armitage, Organic Dairy Farmer.
NFU vice chairman Stuart Roberts said: “This year’s East of England Farming Conference comes at such an interesting time for the industry.
“I am looking forward to looking beyond Brexit and start to assess some of the longer term trends that will influence our industry over the next decade.”
