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Opening video

Opening address (Hall 1)

Minette Batters, NFU President

Keynote political address (Hall 1)

Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Questions
Chaired by Minette Batters, NFU President

British food systems in the global context (Hall 1)

Jack Bobo, Director Food Systems Institute, University of Nottingham

Questions
Chaired by David Exwood, NFU Vice President

Lunch (Hall 3)

The future for British food (Hall 1)

Sarah Bradbury, CEO, Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD)

Professor Susan Jebb OBE, Chair, Food Standards Agency

Kate Nicholls OBE, Chief Executive, UK Hospitality

Questions
Chaired by Tom Bradshaw, NFU Deputy President

Keynote
Farming and the Environment: the Regulator’s view

Alan Lovell, Chair, Environment Agency

Questions
Chaired by Minette Batters, NFU President

Break

Commodity sessions

Dairy
Shaping the future political landscape and creating a resilient future

Dairy producers have been through another tough year with poor farm gate prices dominating headlines. With the wider supply chain also under pressure, ensuring the long-term resilience, sustainability and success of dairy businesses has never been more important. Ìý

The session will cover the NFU Dairy Board’s work to address the challenges and improve opportunities for the sector, including an overview of what to expect from the long-anticipated dairy contracts legislation, and how the NFU is lobbying to shape political priorities ahead of the general election. This will be followed by a Q&A panel session.

Chair: Verity Richards, Acting NFU Chief Dairy Adviser

Speakers:

• Abi Kay, Deputy Editor, Farmer's Weekly
• Abi Reader, NFU Cymru Deputy President
• James Osman, NFU Special Projects Manager
• Michael Oakes, NFU Dairy Board chair

Livestock
What does sustainability look like for the red meat sector?

Sustainability has been the buzzword of the last few years, but what does it actually mean for beef and lamb? Does sustainability look different depending on where you are in the supply chain? And how can we showcase why British red meat is sustainable?

The livestock breakout session will try to answer these questions, while also allowing the audience to meet and pose questions to the newly elected regional livestock chairs.

Chair: John Royle, NFU Chief Livestock Adviser

Speakers:

• Sophie Throup, Technical and Sustainability Director (Manufacturing), Morrisons
• Richard Findlay, National Livestock Board chair
• Andrew Loftus, North Livestock Board chair
• Hugh Broom, East Livestock Board chair
• Oli Lee, Midlands Livestock Board chair
• David Barton, South Livestock Board chair
• Robert Lewis, Livestock Board chair, NFU Cymru

Combinable crops
Discussing the challenges and opportunities for sustainable protein in UK agriculture

During this breakout session we will explore the intricate landscape of sustainable protein in UK agriculture, and how protein crops can play a greater role in crop rotations to deliver benefits to your farming system.

The expert panel and audience will engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the future of sustainable protein production and its potential impact on both the agricultural sector and environmental sustainability.

Chair: Luke Cox, NFU Senior Policy Specialist (Combinable Crops)

Speakers:

• Matt Culley, NFU Combinable Crops Board chair
• Andy Bury, Pulse Manager, Frontier
• Steve Belcher, Principle Technical Officer, PGRO (Processors & Growers Research Organisation)

Horticulture and potatoes
Setting the political agenda for UK horticulture

With a general election looming, hear from NFU Horticulture & Potatoes board chairman, Martin Emmett, and NFU External Affairs Adviser, Emma Crosby, about the NFU’s priorities for a new government and how members can engage with MPs to harness their support.

Also, hear from Horticulture Crop Protection Ltd Chief Executive, Simon Conway, on its work to ensure growers continue to access the crop protection tools they need.

Chair: Lee Abbey, NFU Chief Horticulture and Potatoes Adviser

Speakers:

• Martin Emmett, NFU Horticulture & Potatoes Board chair
• Emma Crosby, NFU External Affairs Manager
• Simon Conway, Chief Executive, Horticulture Crop Protection Ltd
• Derek Wilkinson, NFU Horticulture & Potatoes vice chair
• Tim Rooke, NFU Potato Policy Group chair

Poultry
Setting the strategy that is fit for the future

It goes without saying that poultry producers have faced significant challenges in recent years. Whilst the NFU is dedicated to supporting members facing these challenges, we must also shape a vision for the policy landscape of tomorrow and beyond.

With a general election looming, this session will address what poultry meat and egg producers need to operate profitable, resilient, and sustainable businesses.

NFU Poultry Board chair James Mottershead will share the board’s priorities for future strategy and Professor Louise Manning will provide a personal perspective of the opportunities the poultry sector has to strengthen supply chains ensuring that they are fit for the future.

Chair: Aimee Mahony, NFU Chief Poultry Adviser

Speakers:

• James Mottershead, NFU Poultry Board chair
• Professor Louise Manning, Professor of Sustainable Agri Food Systems, Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology, University of Lincoln

NFU Sugar
Delivering Net Zero in the Sugar Beet Sector

This year’s session will explore opportunities to unlock private finance to support growers on their journey towards net zero, ensuring that they are fairly rewarded for environmental services and emissions savings which they are able to deliver on farm.

The session will showcase a project which has commenced in collaboration with NFU Energy to incentivise delivery of environmental services in the UK beet sector.

Chair: Dr Zoe Leach OBE, NFU Regional Director (East)

Speakers:

• Michael Sly MBE, NFU Sugar chair
• Sam Williamson, NFU Sugar Adviser
• Lisa Howkins, Sales and Marketing Director, NFU Energy
• Steven Leil, Compliance Scheme Manager, NFU Energy
• Dan Sokell, Managing Director, LENS East of England
• Matt Ryan, Regeneration Lead, Nestlé UK & Ireland

Doors open for dinner (Hall 3)

Regional ‘Meurig Raymond’ awards

Dinner

With after dinner speaker

Opening video

Keynote (Hall 1)

What the countryside thinks: the political landscape in Britain’s rural seats

Joe Twyman, Co-founder and director of the public opinion consultancy Deltapoll. Former Head of Political at YouGov (2000-18)

Questions
Chaired by Terry Jones, NFU Director General

Political session: Hustings (Hall 1)

The Rt Hon Mark Spencer MP, Minister of State for Farming, Fisheries and Food
Daniel Zeichner MP, Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Tim Farron MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Questions
Chaired by Sophy Ridge, Broadcast Journalist, Sky News

Break

Political reaction: Views from the farm (NFU member panel)

Midlands: Philip Maddocks (Salad Crops)

South: Bridget Christensen (Poultry, dairy and arable)Ìý

North: William Maughan (Arable, beef and poultry)

South: Luke Thomas (Sheep and beef)

NFU Cymru: Delyth Robinson (Dairy)

Questions
Chaired by

Closing address (Hall 1)

Minette Batters, NFU President

Lunch (Hall 3)

Annual General Meeting (Hall 1 – members only)

Officeholder elections