Technical developments and future land prices appear to predict that arable farming is in a fairly good place for the foreseeable future, provided relative prices for grain are maintained, said Paul Wilkinson, Chairman of Fengrain at the end of the company’s first conference debating the future of arable farming and food supply in the UK.
Over 150 industry executives attended the event at the East of England Showground to hear a panel of experts that included: John Calder, Cefetra; Robert Fairey and Rob Hughes, Brown & Co; Ed Flatman, Limagrain; Mark Buckingham, Monsanto; Tim Smith, Tesco; Stephen Barclay MP; and Prof Tim Lang, London University.
Future land prices, cost of production, technological change and innovation were presented and the challenge to current food consumption and the use of grain to produce more meat was challenged by Prof Tim Lang of London University.
Tesco’s Technical Director, Tim Smith spoke about the work being undertaken to get more transparency in the supply chain by offering longer term contacts to producers. Following analysis of the bullish and bearish factors in the market
Stephen Barclay MP for NE Cambs, challenged the audience to make themselves heard to government by ensuring that lobbying on farming issues was consistent, concise, and meaningful.
Paul Wilkinson concluded: “there are challenges to provenance in the food supply chain driven by consumer demand for cheap food so retailers need to ensure food security and transparency are priorities. Whilst an imbalance in food supply continues across the globe, future demand for grain as a direct and indirect foodstuff will remain high.”
