Kendall highlights world of opportunity for agriculture

Speaking at a high level London conference on the future of farming today (Thursday, November 5), Peter Kendall, NFU president, listed the challenges ahead.

“Our need to double food production globally by 2050, the impacts of climate change on the ability to grow and rear food, the pressure on our natural resources, particularly when many of our farm inputs rely heavily on oil and gas,” he said.

Mr Kendall added volatile markets and the downward pressures exerted by dominant supermarket powers to his list but then said the new ‘dynamic’ would open period of unprecedented opportunity for farmers.

“Our potential for growing different types of food, coupled with increased demand for our produce, should see a positive impact on prices and with it increased profits and stimulus for the reinvestment that is so desperately needed in some sectors.”

He added farmers and growers would also be key players in the green energy revolution.

“Farmland acts as platform for renewable energy, both for growing sustainable fuel crops and turning farm waste into electricity. Many of the changes being made in the industry to increase productivity and competiveness, as well as making good business sense, are also beneficial to the environment.”

Mr Kendall, joined the Government’s chief scientist professor John Beddington and a host of top speakers at the London conference, and used his speech to repeat calls for Defra to set a public service agreement measure for food production and increase spending in research and development.  

Today’s seminar, organised by the Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum, addresses the strategic challenges facing the agriculture industry and the role farmers and growers can play.

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