This conference, organised by the Sustainable Food Trust in partnership with the National Farmers’ Union, will be held on 5th July 2019 with a farm walk, evening dinner and guest lecture by Charles Massy on the 4th July.

The event has been inspired by Minette Batters’ target of net zero carbon emissions from UK agriculture by 2040. It is the first NFU/SFT partnership event, underlying the urgent need to work collaboratively to address the challenge of climate change. We will explore the unique capacity of farming systems to address the threats of climate change, biodiversity and soil carbon loss, whilst producing high quality, health-promoting food.

Venue: Fir Farm, Lower Swell, Gloucestershire. Generously hosted by Sir Alan and Lady Parker.

Speakers include:

• Charles Massy - Australian author and farmer

• Minette Batters - President, National Farmers’ Union

• Patrick Holden - Chief Executive, Sustainable Food Trust

• Gail Bradbrook - Co-Founder, Extinction Rebellion

• Martijn Wilder - Baker McKenzie’s Global Environmental Markets and Climate Change practice

• Alison Capper - Farmer and Chairman of the NFU National Horticulture & Potatoes Board

• Professor Michael Lee - Rothamsted Research

• Professor Myles Allen - Oxford University

• Professor Dieter Helm - Chair, Natural Capital Committee

• Jonathan Dimbleby - Broadcaster and author

• Richard Benyon - Conservative Party MP

• Tom Watson - Deputy Leader Labour Party

• Susan Twining - Chief Land Use Policy Adviser, CLA

• Henry Edmunds - Cholderton Estate

• Nicolette Hahn Niman - Rancher and Author

• Richard Williamson - Managing Director, Beeswax Dyson

• Simon Fairlie - Farmer and Author

• Tony Juniper - Chair, Natural England

• Robert Appleby - Co-Founder and Joint Chief Investment Offcicer, ADM Capital

• Eleanor Herrin - Chief Finance and Strategy Officer, Farmdrop

We invite farmers, policy makers, investors and other stakeholders to join us in exploring the practical, policy and economic changes that are needed to enable a transition to sustainable agriculture.

Conference session themes:

• Reaching net zero carbon emissions: addressing the UK challenge

• Climate change and emissions from UK agriculture: the science

• Farming and business case studies

• Making sustainable farming pay

• Panel discussion chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby

Tickets:

Tickets are now available for the Friday event as well as the farm walk, evening dinner and talk on the Thursday. Please follow the link to buy tickets.

Limited concession rates are also available. For more information on these, as well as for media passes and sponsorship opportunites please contact SFT Communications Manager, Megan Perry on megan@sustainablefoodtrust.org or 07761804341

Programme

Please follow this link for programme details.

Accommodation

There is no accommodation available at the conference itself but there are several local options nearby. Please follow this link for suggestions.

Travel

Car parking will be available at the event and both Moreton-in-Marsh and Kingham train stations are about a 15-20 minute taxi ride away.

Photograph: Ian Boyd