As we head into a new era of farming, with less support, greener outlooks and an increasing reliance on technology, there will be fantastic opportunities, and challenges, for innovative contractors. The NAAC will be aiming to make sure the industry is ‘Fit for the Future’ at Contractor 2019 on 12 December at the East of England Showground.
Balwinder Dhoot, policy lead on the National Food Strategy, will kick off the morning with some blue sky thinking about the current political situation and then put into context the National Food Strategy and what it hopes to achieve, linking to the contracting sector and how they will fit in the strategy.
Expect lively debate to follow, with a panel of experts examining where contractors will fit in a potentially greener but less supported sector and, importantly, who will pay for the new technology being demanded to move the sector forward.
Carbon measurement is the current buzz, along with climate change, and SAC Consulting will look at measuring a contractor’s carbon footprint. Discussion will then follow about where a fuel hungry sector with little or no prospect to sequester carbon, fits in the broader picture heading towards zero carbon farming equations.
Finally, the focus will fall on mental health. Brought forward into the media for good reason, as the sector tends to take the ‘man-up’ approach, the FCN will look at how we can tackle mental health together.
The only event in the UK specifically aimed at land-based contractors, this will be a thought-provoking day with a morning of high-quality speakers, leading into an exhibition of contractor-focussed machinery and services, all generously sponsored by John Deere.
To book a place visit www.membersnaac.co.uk/booknow/ or tel 01780 784631.