Weight loss jabs such as Mounjaro should be seen as an opportunity for the food and farming industry, rather than a threat, according to the chair of one of the UK's leading food businesses.
Speaking on the Farmers Guardian podcast, Sarah Dean, of Noble Foods, described the rise of weight loss injections such as GLP-1s as a potential turning point.
While many high profile chefs and restaurants have bemoaned the rise of so-called ‘fat jabs' because they reduce appetite and therefore people are eating and drinking less, Ms Dean thinks they could instead accelerate a shift toward healthier, higher-quality whole foods.
Changing habits
As consumers eat less, she suggests they may prioritise ‘cleaner' diets, focusing on nutrient-dense, protein-rich and minimally processed products. This presents an opportunity for agricultural businesses to reposition themselves, supplying food that aligns with these changing habits.
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For producers, particularly in sectors like eggs and fresh food, the trend could strengthen demand for products that deliver clear nutritional value. It may also encourage a shorter, more transparent supply chain, where provenance and quality are key selling points.
Fifth-generation cidermaker Eleanor Thatcher, of Thatchers Cider, joined Sarah Dean on the podcast to talk about the biggest disruptors facing leaders in family businesses across food and farming; .
Ms Thatcher sees artificial intelligence as a significant opportunity for her cider business, particularly in improving efficiency and accelerating learning across operations. Coming from a generation that has grown up with technology, she recognises how AI can enhance decision-making, streamline processes and support innovation in a traditionally heritage-led sector.
Within the business, AI is already beginning to influence areas such as production, logistics and data analysis, helping teams respond more quickly to challenges and identify opportunities for improvement. Ms Thatcher suggests this ability to process information at speed is becoming increasingly important as businesses face mounting pressure to adapt in a fast-changing environment.
Taste and quality
However, she is clear that AI should complement, not replace, the human expertise that underpins cider-making. Craft, taste and quality remain central - areas where technology cannot yet replicate experience.
In this special episode of the Farmers Guardian podcast, recorded ahead of the Cultivate ‘Leading Through Change' conference, where both speakers will take to the stage on April 29, conference founder Andy Venables said the industry must address the gap in leadership support across agriculture.
Mr Venables added: "Farmers are the first people to ring up the vet when something isn't quite right with an animal, or phone the agronomist when a crop isn't performing, but they always leave themselves to last. From a leadership perspective, unless you are doing the work on yourself to become a better leader, you can't help others. It is about understanding that it is okay to invest in yourself and you are helping others if you do that."
Cultivate is now in its fourth year and combines inspirational speakers with real-world farming success stories, all set against the backdrop of a diversified farm business at Heaton House in Cheshire.
