NFU Scotland has taken the difficult decision to move its 2022 AGM and conference, scheduled for early February, to an exclusively online event.
Plans for the union’s AGM, conference and annual dinner – a highlight of the Scottish agricultural calendar – had been initially prepared based on holding a hybrid event, where speakers and a limited audience would have met in Glasgow on February 10 and February 11, with virtual proceedings being available to watch simultaneously.
With Covid cases at an exceptionally high level, the decision was taken by NFU Scotland’s board of directors that the health and safety of all potential attendees is paramount and that the conference and AGM will now take place online.
NFU Scotland will consider if rescheduling its annual dinner for later in the year is feasible.
President Martin Kennedy said:
NFU Scotland’s AGM, conference and annual dinner holds a special place in the Scottish farming calendar.
“While all involved in this tremendous event will have wished for a return to normality, the Covid pandemic continues to wreak havoc with events and plans.”
A unanimous decision
“NFU Scotland’s board of directors was unanimous in its decision that this key event goes ahead and that we move the 2022 event fully online,” he added.
It is a format that worked incredibly well in February 2021 when we delivered a fantastic AGM and conference to a large online audience.
“With the conference programme for #NFUS2022 almost finalised, I can promise those who join us online an event packed with political engagement, policy debate and an insight into the role of social media in promoting our industry’s positive messages.
“Set against the backdrop of Brexit one-year on and the ongoing impact of Covid, discussions and presentations around future farm policy, trade, input prices, labour availability and farm assurance will ensure something for everyone to get engaged with.
Face-to-face meetings and social gatherings will always be a hugely important part of NFU Scotland and are at the core of how we engage and interact with our members.
“While we all wish for more normal times, taking this important event online for the second year in a row will still ensure that the most important issues for our food and farming sector remain front and centre as we move into 2022.”
