Conference Programme
Royal Show Agricultural Conference
The 2008 Royal Show Conference looks to the future for farmers at a time of dramatic change. The daily seminars will deliver speakers from numerous market sectors to debate the big issues affecting British farming and what the scenarios and solutions might be. The conference has attracted very high calibre speakers and sponsors from outside the farming industry, including McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd, Waitrose and restaurant supplier Aubrey Allen; their involvement in the Conference shows the commercial and political importance of British Agriculture to their businesses in the coming years.
Thursday 3rd July 2008
The Big Issue: Food Security, Water and Global Commodity Demands
Sponsored by the McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd. in conjunction with the Guild of Agricultural Journalists
Click on a logo for more details about McDonald’s and the Guild of Agricultural Journalists.
The biggest issues facing the British farming industry have political, economic and practical implications. This conference aims to tackle the following questions:
- What are the drivers and the political intent for food security and are there any potential opportunities for UK farmers?
- With increased global demand for starch- and oil-based commodities, what are the current, medium and long-term scenarios for supply, price and demand… and which markets will win, and which will suffer?
- With demand for commodities on the rise, and livestock producers suffering, does GM technology offer a potential solution?
- Water resources are going to become limited in the UK. How will British farming be affected when competition for supplies bite?
- Every one of these issues has implications for the consumer, so what are their perceptions, and how can British farming plc respond?
The content for this conference will be hard-hitting from a highly engaged panel of speakers, come along and join the debate.
Click
here to link to detailed speaker biographies and presentation précis for 3rd
July
| 2.30pm |
Introduction from the Chairperson David Kidney MP |
| 2.40pm |
Food Security – the issues and the
implications for the UK Peter Kendall, NFU President |
| 3.00pm |
Are biofuels the pariah or solution to our
future energy needs? Richard Whitlock, Industrial Crops Director, Frontier Agriculture |
| 3.20pm |
Are GM and molecular genetics part of the
solution? Dr Colin Merritt, External Affairs and New Business Development manager, Monsanto UK Ltd |
| 3.40pm |
Securing a fair share of water for
agriculture – future threats and opportunities. Dr Jerry Knox, Principal Research Fellow in Irrigation and Water Resources at the Centre for Water Science at Cranfield University |
| 4.00pm | The customer’s perspective Dean McKenna, McDonald’s Head of Supply Chain |
| 4.20pm |
Session debate with speakers Facilitated by David Kidney |
| 4.30pm | Conference Close |
Friday 4th July 2008
British Food and Food Service Opportunities for Farmers
Sponsored by the Country Landowners Association in conjunction with the Guild of Agricultural Journalists
Click on a logo for more details about the Country Land & Business Association and the Guild of Agricultural Journalists.
British Food and Food Service provide British farmers with opportunity driven directly by consumer demand and preference. British Food has become a mark of quality and commands a price premium. This conference asks a catering supply butcher, a fine-dining chef, a quality-focused British retailer and two farmer-turned food manufacturers, what the challenges are for British producers, and how they might capitalise on the opportunities. The debate will explore the role of branding, price, supply and quality as key facets of food-chain success.
Click
here to link to detailed speaker biographies and presentation précis for 4th
July
| 10.30am | Introduction from the Chairperson CLA |
| 10.40am | Securing supply to a niche retailer and catering supplier Peter Allen, Managing Director, Aubrey Allen Ltd |
| 11.00am | Food service – the fine dining restaurant’s perspective Andreas Antona, Michelin Star Chef, Simpsons |
| 11.20am | The retailer’s vision - Championing British Food Mark Price, Waitrose |
| 11.40am | Building a Food Brand and Niche Market Duncan Farrington, Farrington Oils Ltd |
| 12.00pm | Why Would You Pay More for Your Sausages? Andrew Keeble, Debbie & Andrews Sausages |
| 12.20pm | Session debate with speakers Facilitated by Chairman |
| 12.30pm | Conference Close |
The Conference is free to attend for all Royal Show visitors.
Spaces are limited so please arrive in good time.
How to get there:
By road – The Royal Show is well signposted and located half way between Coventry and Warwick, just off the A46. The main motorway networks are easily accessible.
By rail – Coventry, Leamington and Warwick Parkway stations are all 15 minutes away by shuttle/taxi. Buses will operate between Coventry Station and the Show.
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