Farms Minister, Jim Paice, will deliver a keynote speech on the challenges and opportunities facing the food and farming sector in rural Cornwall on the first day of next month’s Royal Cornwall Show, at Wadebridge.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food will speak at the Country Land and Business Association’s Breakfast Debate on the first morning of the show, Thursday 9 June.
The event, which is sponsored by Stephens Scown, has traditionally attracted a large audience and CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, says they will want to hear what the Government’s plans are for rural planning and housing, economic development and the management of animal disease.
“Clearly our members will want to hear the Minister’s attitude towards Bovine TB. He has been a staunch ally for the farming industry and I am sure the Cornish farming community will want to hear that the Government remains resolute in its determination to tackle this disease.
“But there are other, wider, issues relating to the food sector – such as the Food Standards Agency’s plans to shift the whole burden of inspection costs onto food producers, which would be catastrophic for small abattoirs. Then there is the whole issue of how we set about achieving security in our food supply chain without creating further environmental damage and how we are going to address the issue of food waste and the potential to create energy from it. There’s a big agenda facing land managers and we’re grateful that the Minister has accepted our invitation to come and talk about his vision of the future,” said Mr Mortimer.
On the second day of the show (Friday 10 June) The CLA will be hosting an “Any Questions” style breakfast with a top team of panellists chaired by the CLA’s national President William Worsley.
The team includes the chairman of Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, Chris Pomfret; South West MEP Julia Girling; Richard Macdonald, the former Director General of the NFU who is now the man responsible for recommending red tape reforms in the farming industry, Alan Qualtrough, the Editor of the Western Morning News, Simon Gregory a partner with Foot Anstey and Brian Harvey from Winter Rule’s rural services team.
“A unitary authority, superfast broadband, new opportunities in renewable energy, the localism agenda and a brand new Local Economic Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – all of this promises new and exciting change but it will it bring real changes to the local economy, better paid jobs and affordable houses? We shall be tasking our panel to answer questions on what the real barriers to growth are for Cornwall’s rural economy, “said Mr. Mortimer.
It was, he said, a format which had proved hugely successful over the last few years and offered show visitors a chance to join in a fast moving and intelligent discussion about the issues which concern those who live in, work in and manage rural Cornwall.
Entry to the breakfast debate is by ticket only but these can be reserved by contacting the CLA on 01249 700200.
