Future Farmers of Yorkshire Autumn Debate 2024
One Health: A better food system for all
The Future Farmers of Yorkshire’s Autumn Debate takes place on the evening of Thursday 14th November 2024 at Farmer Copleys in Pontefract.
Featuring insights from an industry panel, the event will scrutinise the ‘One Health’ agenda.
How can healthy soils, plus healthy livestock, equal healthy consumers and profitable farm businesses?
Farm businesses, consumers and the planet all need a more progressive food system: a system that results in a healthier population with less burden on an under-pressure NHS; that enables productive and profitable farming, delivering nutrient dense food that consumers want, and can afford to buy.
What are the opportunities as farm realities, government policy and retailer attitudes become increasingly driven by climate change dynamics?
Scroll down the page for the evening’s running order and panel line up.
Free to attend and all welcome
Everyone with a stake in British agriculture is welcome along for a fascinating panel-led discussion and for a great opportunity to network with others in the industry.
Places are free but you must register in advance no later than 10am on Monday 11th November to inform catering arrangements.
Running order
6pm – Arrive for informal, self-guided visits to Farmer Copleys Farm Shop, and Copley’s Kitchen, where gelato and jam is made on-site
6.30pm – Registration desk and bar opens
7pm – Hot buffet supper served
7.30pm – Chair’s welcome and panellist presentations
8.30pm – Q&A with the panel
9.30pm – Chair’s closing remarks
10pm – Bar closes
Line up
Chair – Alex Black
Alex Black is Head of News and Business at Farmers Guardian magazine.
Alex has worked for Farmers Guardian for eight years, starting out as Business Reporter.
She covers all the farming sectors, with a particular interest in dairy and commodity prices and consumers insights.
Speaker – Sir Mark Spencer
Sir Mark Spencer, the former DEFRA Minister, is a farmer and businessman in Nottinghamshire.
His family’s farm business employs around 50 local people, growing produce which is sold in the farm shop.
Sir Mark served as the Conservative MP for Sherwood between 2010 and 2024, and on several parliamentary committees including the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.
Among the posts he held during his time in Parliament was Leader of the House of Commons. In March 2024, he was appointed as a Kings Batchelor by His Majesty the King.
Speaker – Dr Hannah Fraser
Hannah Fraser works both as a medical doctor and an organic farmer.
Passionate about the impact of diet on health and wellbeing, Hannah aims to promote access to nutrient-rich foods that could play a vital role in addressing the rising levels of chronic disease in the UK.
Drawing on her dual experience of medicine and farming, Hannah believes that food producers hold the key to a healthier population and a less burdened NHS.
In 2023, Hannah was awarded a UK Nuffield Farming Scholarship, sponsored by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, to investigate how farming practices can improve the nutrient density of foods and, in turn, improve human health.
Speaker – James Robinson
An organic dairy farmer from south Cumbria with a passion for farming alongside nature, James Robinson and his family have a long history at Strickley Farm and regularly share their farm with schools and other local groups.
James is also the England Chair for The Nature Friendly Farming Network.
Speaker – Professor Pippa Chapman
Pippa Chapman is a professor of soil scientist at the University of Leeds, working in the interdisciplinary field of land and water management.
Her expertise focuses around sustainable agriculture, soil health, water quality and climate change.
Pippa’s research at the University of Leeds farm includes demonstrating and measuring the impacts of different transition strategies to regenerative agriculture as part of the Fix Our Food project, evaluating the benefits of agroforestry, and quantifying greenhouse fluxes.
Not sure what to expect?
The Future Farmers of Yorkshire brings together like-minded farmers, vets and industry supporters.
The group is supported by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and is open to everyone within the industry.
At the last Future Farmers debate, we explored Changing the Farming Narrative: Delivering More Than Just Food.
Read the full report from our Great Yorkshire Show Breakfast Meeting here.
