The Future of Farming

From the late 1940s to 1973, British agricultural policy was based upon maximising production. After 1973, the EU took over and followed a very similar path. BREXIT ushered in the fundamental shift away from production subsidies towards the concept of public money only for public goods. The 2020 Agricultural Act set the new framework, with the Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs) subsidy framework. Since then, farmers have faced a serious decline in the real value of subsidies, the ending of the Basic Farm Payment, and the application of inheritance tax. These massive changes have been further impacted by the retreat of net biodiversity gain and the prospect of compulsory land purchases without development land uplifts. Nor is change slowing down: farmers are in the firing line for the lack of progress on reducing the carbon footprints, biodiversity remains in a bad way, and there is every prosect that there will be more initiatives to address land use.

We will be joined by Sir Dieter Helm, where he will be answering the following questions during this Lunchtime Talk... Where next for farming? Is technology going to transform the sector, is food production being side-lined, and will more and more prime agricultural land be switched to solar, biomass and rewilding? Will the polluter pays principle be applied, including to water pollution?

About the speaker:

Sir Dieter Helm, Professor of Economic Policy, University of Oxford, and Fellow in Economics, New College, Oxford, has written many books on the environment and regulation, including his latest book Legacy: How to build the sustainable economy. From 2012 to 2020, he was Independent Chair of the Natural Capital Committee, providing advice to the government on the sustainable use of natural capital. He provides extensive expert advice to UK and European governments, regulators and companies across three key areas: Energy & Climate; Regulation, Utilities & Infrastructure; and Natural Capital & the Environment.

Dieter is a Vice President of the Exmoor Society, a Vice President of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, and Honorary Fellow, Brasenose College, Oxford.

Please arrive at 11:45 am. The talk will start at midday, and lunch will be served at 1:00 pm.

After the talk, you will get a freshly prepared, nutritious lunch from the FarmED Cafe where you will be able to network with other guests.

Cancellation Policy

We understand that there may be times where you need to cancel your booking.  Our cancellation policy is outlined here.

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