Future Farmers

Improving public opinion is the key to controlling the demands put on our industry by government and environmental lobby groups.

Following a month of Nuffield travels across the Antipodes, I have seen just how challenging it can be for an industry to come together and promote itself and the value of its products without competitive advantage crippling wider industry gains.

Many farmers and agri-businesses are so busy defending their competitive position that they aren't dealing effectively with the bigger picture of public opinion. 

Climate change and food security issues are now on the agenda of many governments and environmental lobby groups are knocking at the door, shifting goal-posts and playing on industry weakness regarding our lack of cohesive position and plans to deal with these issues.

There's a significant need for the industry to address these issues in across the board. This goes way beyond competitive advantage because without an industry-wide approach, we are exposed to the advanced "mining" abilities of lobby groups, plundering our resources and creating chaos and turmoil within markets and within farming families as they strive to keep up with the next wave of lobbying.

The "Farming For Our Future" project in New Zealand was a fine example of an industry taking control of it's PR machine. Currently, in it's early stages, it proposes to bring together all sectors to achieve a greater presence in national and regional media to significantly improve the public image of farming.

This is no mean feat given the characters involved, but with this project is being driven forward by an independent, proactive and open-minded steering committee, it has every chance of success.

Discussions with a wide range of farmers and agri-businesses have clarified that there's a strong desire to get on the front foot, control public opinion and work together for the benefit of the whole industry if we want these guys to be the future farmers of tomorrow.

Tim West and Thomas Roxburgh - Farmers of the Future?

I am very grateful to The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust, which has given me the opportunity to find a solution that secures a safe and healthy farming industry that our children can be proud to inherit.