Does agriculture need to understand more about the consumer?
I want to talk about how agriculture as an industry needs to understand more about the consumer. This was a popular topic of conversation at the recent Oxford Farming Conference. While the usual clarion call is that the consumer needs to understand more about food and where it comes from, I think it’s incumbent upon us within the farming industry to understand consumer motivations and preferences for food.
IHT in agriculture: Why we need to find the middle ground
I want to share my reflections on the IHT issue in agriculture and why, for me, it is about the reputational management of the whole of the agricultural sector.
The complexity of getting branding right
I was talking to somebody the other day who just happened to mention that they keep Stabiliser cattle. These cattle were bred in the 1990’s to create the ultimate suckler cow.
Wealth and Wellbeing: Why the UK Must Welcome Trade with Open Arms
In the UK, we have these opportunities, and whilst they’ve become greater since we left the EU, it feels we are out of practice at identifying and working together to deliver trade.
The Time is Now: Why It’s the Perfect Moment to Get Behind Regenerative Agriculture
Early last month, I went to an AHDB farm walk up at Boddington Estates, one of AHDB’s Monitor Farms. There were around 25-30 of us, local farmers who were all really engaged, with farmers sharing performance information and best practice as a way of improving their own businesses.
Towards a policy framework for a more sustainable food system
A strong framework will ensure delivery on the broader outcomes whilst reigning in the more unsavoury elements of an unfettered free market.
Farmers’ ‘thirst for knowledge’ on achieving robust and profitable businesses
I’m going to be talking about the growing thirst for knowledge among farmers around the decisions they need to take on farm to ensure their resilience and profitability.
The Oxford Farming Conference 2024: Diversity and Developments in Regenerative Agriculture
Amid the challenges and changes facing the ag sector, there was much evidence of commercial businesses driving change.
Could a Carbon Tax Drive Change in the Face of the Climate Crisis?
I recently attended the IAgrM (Institute of Agricultural Management) conference in London and this year’s theme was “Technology V Tradition: The Future of Agricultural and Environmental Management.”
Creating a sustainable food system needs a different approach
When we think about sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and getting to net zero, everyone talks about the food system in the UK being ‘broken’ and having to fundamentally change.
