Last week, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) brought together British farmers, growers, industry experts, and policymakers at the ICC in Birmingham for its annual NFU Conference. Amid discussions on the challenges facing British agriculture and the trajectory for its future, NFU Energy proudly participated in and contributed to this vital event. Attending the recent NFU Conference was an absolute privilege, as expressed by NFU Energy's Sales and Marketing Director, Lisa Howkins. She remarked, "It was particularly rewarding to meet and engage with farmers from diverse sectors, and it was great to witness the interest in on-farm sustainability among so many members.
“The conference was a hive of activity, featuring a series of insightful and thought-provoking presentations that spanned across the two-day event. A special highlight was listening to the passionate and inspiring speeches by Minette Batters, whose exemplary leadership of the NFU has been nothing short of brilliant. As we bid her a fond farewell, we also extend our warmest congratulations and best wishes to Tom Bradshaw, David Exwood, and Rachel Hallos as they embark on their new journeys in their respective Officeholder positions."
Read Minette Batter’s speech here in full.
Notably, the conference witnessed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addressing the industry, promising unwavering support with a pledge to maintain England's farming budget at £2.4billion annually. Sunak's announcement of the largest-ever grant offer for farmers, totalling £427million, underscored the government's commitment to fostering innovation and productivity in farming. We hope this initiative, which includes funding for technology and productivity schemes, aims to increase the number of farmers and growers adopting renewable energy solutions on their farm.
In addition to speakers, the conference agenda included breakout sessions for attendees to join. NFU Energy was invited to present and panel the Sugar session, providing an opportunity to discuss our collaboration with Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs) and Nestle to help unlock private finance, supporting growers on their journey towards Net Zero. This partnership ensures fair rewards for environmental services and emissions savings on-farm, illustrating a commitment to sustainability and innovation within the agricultural sector.
In conclusion, the NFU Conference 2024 was not just a gathering but a testament to the resilience, innovation, and shared commitment of stakeholders across British agriculture.