WFU Conference 28th-30th March 2010

I am a member of the Women's Farming Union, so anyone interested in attending this year's WFU Conference to be held at Askham Bryan College, Askham Bryan, York, YO23 3FR, from 28th-30th March 2010 can get in touch as I am selling tickets for the event.

The theme of the conference this year is Food for the Future – a Conference for forward thinking women involved in Food and Agriculture.

"Never has there been a more important issue for food producers and farmers to address than the crisis that awaits us if we do not take action to redress the balance in the importance of our impending food shortage. According to Professor John Beddington, the Governments adviser and Chief Scientist, who has warned that the growing world population and demand for resources means that the demand for food will increase by 50% in the year 2030, are we ready for it?" Source: WFU

Barbara Scholefield has organised the conference and the following speakers will be attending:

• Will Cockbain – Food and Environmental Security - Will is a Lake District hill farmer, farming on the outskirts of Keswick. He is also the NFU's National uplands spokesman and sits on the national stakeholder Upland Land Management Advisory Group. Will is also the North West’s regional Sustainable Farming and Food Champion.
• Paul Brereton – Lost Food – tracing the origin of food - Paul Brereton is Head of Fera International at the Food and Environment Research Agency in York. He has published over 60 peer reviewed papers on the development and application of analytical methodology to food safety and quality. Paul currently co-ordinates TRACE and also currently sits on the Editorial Board of the journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.
• Heather Parry - Heather is Deputy Chief Executive for the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and has project managed the new Regional Agricultural Centre. Heather will speak about the challenges faced and benefits of using environmentally friendly materials.
• Graham Ward OBE - Graham will talk about the food crops which could be grown in the UK as growing conditions change, he will also include developing new varieties by traditional and genetic modification methods. Graham became involved in the food industry when he became a fruit farm manager followed by career in ICI crop protection and Director of Fernhurst Research Station. He is presently director of Stockbridge Technology Centre an applied research facility servicing the horticultural industry.
  

The three day conference commences with the annual dinner on Sunday evening, a conference on Monday and a trip to visit the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s new premises on Tuesday morning which includes the shop and café.

Prices:
Conference Day Ticket (includes refreshments and lunch) £15
Conference Dinner £25

For tickets you can contact me, Sally Robinson, at Valley View Farm, Old Byland, Helmsley, York, YO62 5LG enclosing a cheque or email sally@valleyviewfarm.com and telephone 01439 798221 to pay by credit card.

I look forward to seeing you there.