• Brachers was pleased to return as sponsor and panel member of the annual CLA debate, which focused on the future of the farming industry, and the challenges and opportunities it faces amid a constantly-changing political and economic landscape.

    Employment Partner, Antonio Fletcher, focused on opportunities and challenges rural businesses face in regards to their workforce. He was joined on the panel by other experts representing the scientific, vegan and land management communities.

    Key issues that Antonio discussed were:

    • The impact of ageing and declining rural populations
    • Embracing the use of technology and mechanisation
    • Upskilling the workforce, including apprenticeships
    • The increasing importance of retention, motivation and incentivisation factors

    Key messages from the debate were:

    • Different visions of what the future of farming may look like were set out, with speakers and audience members clashing over veganism’s impact on biodiversity.
    • While there was acknowledgement of – and enthusiasm for – the need for change among many present, ridding land of livestock was widely rejected as impractical and harmful.
    • Training and apprenticeships were identified as vital to the sector’s prosperity over the next decade.
    • Farmers cannot simply rely on migrant labour over the next decade, so must embrace technology and mechanisation.
    • Innovation, science and wider diversification can help create new opportunities, generate growth and provide the sector with a positive future.

    You can now read the full report on the CLA website. Copies of the presentation slides are also available by emailing amy.watt@cla.org.uk.

    Watch a short video summarising the debate.

    This content is correct at time of publication

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