30 October 2015
Sustainable agriculture, food and farming, and changing food choices for consumers are among the topics being presented at the 2015 Jersey farming conference.
It’s the fifth year that the Economic Development Department and the Department of the Environment have hosted the event. In previous years it has attracted more than 100 delegates from Jersey’s rural community.
The event, on Thursday 12 November, will cover international, national and local issues affecting Jersey’s agricultural industry.
Topics include sustainable farming, non-food crop options, nitrates, the coastal national park, market diversity and the future of farming in the Island.
The lead speaker is Leaf chief executive, Caroline Drummond. Leaf stands for linking environment and farming and is the leading organisation promoting sustainable agriculture, food and farming. It helps farmers produce good food, with care and to high environmental standards.
It also builds public understanding of food and farming through Open Farm Sunday and year round farm visits.
Changing consumer tastes
Alex Bandini from Kantar, Worldpanel, a global expert in shoppers’ behaviour, will talk about how a shifting retailer landscape and changing consumer tastes will affect what Britons buy and eat today and consider how this might affect shopper choice in future.
Environment Minister, Deputy Steve Luce said “Farmers have an increasingly important role in managing and protecting our environment and in making Jersey the special place it is. Debate about the various challenges of farming has intensified and our annual farming conference has become a real opportunity to consider current issues and share best practice.”
“Like previous years, we’ve tried to pull together a carefully chosen range of subjects across the local, national and international landscape for discussions that we hope will inform and influence the industry’s future.”
Innovators
The Minister for Economic Development, Lyndon Farnham said “Farmers in Jersey face significant challenges, but we’ve also seen that the opportunities are there for the innovators and entrepreneurs. The conference is always an informed and stimulating event and I’d encourage anyone with an interest in the area to come along.”
Everyone with an interest in the rural sector is welcome to attend the free event if they reserve a place by 5 November. It takes place at the Royal Jersey Agricultural and Horticultural Showground. Registration begins at 9.30am and the conference starts at 10am.
Contact the Department of the Environment to reserve a place.
Telephone +44 (1534) 441642
Email the department
gov.je