The initial lineup of speakers has been revealed for the Farmers’ Union of Wales upcoming All Wales Farm Conference themed ‘Opportunities for Growth post-Brexit’.
The conference will be held on October 6, at the RWAS Members Centre on the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth Wells, commencing at 9.30am.
FUW Managing Director Alan Davies said: “This conference is not just about farming - it is about the wider recognition of how Farming Matters, where supply chains are involved, how money circulates in the local economy, where people survive, where profits are made, communities are sustained and our culture continues to thrive. For the first time in over 40 years we have an opportunity to create a long-term plan that favours Wales. If we focus on that – it will happen.
“We need to decide what we want Wales to be and what we want to achieve. It is in our hands to shape a future for our children and grandchildren that is sustainable and profitable and we must recognise the excellent opportunity for us to shape a post-Brexit world that suits Welsh agriculture and Britain. This conference, without a doubt, provides a platform to hear from a wide range of speakers and it will be informative to all who believe that Farming Matters in shaping our rural economy and establishing Wales as the rural powerhouse it has the potential to be.”
Chairing the conference will be ITV Wales Journalist Catrin Haf Jones.
Speakers on the day will include AHDB Chief Strategy Officer Tom Hind, Head of Economics and Social Policy & Director of Research at the think tank ‘Policy Exchange’ and former member of the 'Vote Leave' Economists group Professor Warwick Lightfoot, Welsh Government Future Generations and Well Being Commissioner Sophie Howe, Deputy Chief Executive RWAS & Nuffield Scholar Aled Jones, HCC- Meat Promotion Wales Export Market Development Executive Deanna Leven and Steve Keyworth Founder and Director of Environment Systems, an environmental and agricultural consultancy.
Additional speakers will be announced soon.
FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Preparations for our All Wales Farm Conference are in full swing and we are excited to explore the many aspects and opportunities for growth in a post-Brexit world.
“We have a superb lineup of speakers, who are experts in their field and who will certainly offer great perspectives and insight into what is to come in the future once we leave the European Union in regards to our economy, trade, technology and our social communities.
“I would encourage everyone who has an interest in #FarmingMatters to book their space for the conference as soon as possible via our website fuw.org.uk or by calling our head office on 01970 820280, as places are allocated on a first come first served basis.”