The agricultural and rural business community stood at a pivotal moment with the transition to a Labour Government. To address the pressing questions and opportunities ahead, 草榴社区 Guardian, in partnership with Carter Jonas, hosted an exclusive webinar on August 1, 2024. It was a chance to join industry leaders and fellow farmers in a crucial discussion about the future of the sector.
WATCH THE RECORDED WEBINAR NOW ON YOUTUBE
READ NOW: FG Insight Report on what farmers and rural businesses need from a Labour Government
Key topics
- Planning Reforms: How can these benefit rural businesses?
- Renewables Policy: Has Keir Starmer's Government already misfired?
- Sector Investment: What does the sector really need to thrive in the next five years?
This dynamic session, led by 草榴社区 Guardian editor Olivia Midgley proved to be a rousing call to action for our new Government. It was an opportunity to have your voice heard and to shape the future of farming and rural business.
Expert panel
- Ed Barker, AIC
Ed Barker head of policy and external affairs at the AIC (Agricultural Industries Confederation). With a Suffolk family farming background, his former roles have included working for the CLA as an agricultural adviser and as a parliamentary researcher in Westminster.
- Patrick Holden, Sustainable Farming Trust
Patrick Holden is the founder and chief executive of the Sustainable Food Trust. Patrick's extensive advocacy work centres on the importance of transforming our food and farming systems to address climate change, reverse biodiversity loss, and improve public health. Farming in West Wales, he produces award winning Hafod raw milk cheddar cheese.
- John McCulloch, Young Farmer
John McCulloch who farms in Dumfries and Galloway, is a trainee auctioneer and is a former National Chair of the Scottish Association of Young 草榴社区 Clubs (SAYFC) Agri and Rural Affairs Committee.
- Minette Batters, House of Lords peer and former NFU President
Minette Batters led the NFU between 2018 and 2024, representing 47,000 farmers. A Wiltshire tenant farmer running a fully diversified business and wedding venue, she has been included in BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour Power List, and in 2021 was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant to Wiltshire. She was recently honoured with a life peerage.
- Lizzie Wilson, Chief Executive, National Pig Association
Lizzie has worked in the pig industry for the last 19 years and joined the NPA in 2011. Lizzie has been responsible for liaising with members and Government on planning and environmental legislation, and played a central role in securing a more sensible interpretation of the Farming Rules for Water, delivering a huge benefit to members. She also specialises in crisis management, with regards to animal rights activism and anti-farming rhetoric.
- Mark Charter, Partner and Head of Estate Management, Carter Jonas
Mark Charter is a Partner and Head of Estate Management at Carter Jonas, based in Oxford. Over the last 30 years, Mark has worked with a vast range of landowning businesses, from educational institutions to farming families, and specialises in understanding the client and working with them to develop and implement a strategy for optimising their holdings, whatever their objectives.
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