Innovations 1-12 September 2014 International Congress Great Britain Issue No 3 : September 2014
In praise of our sponsors By Jane Craigie, Chairman of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists Without delegates making their way to our small island, we would not have an audience to tell our wonderful stories. And without our sponsors, the 2014 IFAJ Congress would not have happened at all. Without delegates making
charge. QMS has supported us hugely with funding for the
their way to our small island,
Congress and also two bursaries. And to Yara - sponsor of
we would not have an
the extravaganza that will be the Gala Dinner - we have a
audience to tell our wonderful
sumptuous beef dinner, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers playing -
stories. And without our
and our coup de grâce - Scotland’s First Minister speaking
sponsors, the 2014 IFAJ
11 days before the Scottish Independence Referendum.
Congress would not have happened at all.
Two additional key sponsors are Adrian and me, as Whisper.pr and Jane Craigie Marketing respectively. We
Over 50% of our costs to put on the Congress have
have each invested close to £20,000 in our voluntary
been covered by monetary and in-kind sponsorship. The
contributions of time over the past two years. Go Rural
generosity of people and companies has been exceptional
Ltd, our event manager has also hugely over-serviced the
and demonstrates the great story-telling opportunity a
Congress and sponsored our May launch event.
Congress provides. Our Principal Sponsors Massey Ferguson, Perkins and Waitrose, could not have done more to support us as a team of organisers. All three companies are huge supporters for the British Guild - our awards, our events and our communications. Not only have these three companies part-funded the Congress, they have given
Three of the Scottish Councils have also pledged their support. Aberdeen City Council will host a Welcome to Scotland dinner for us on the opening night, Aberdeenshire Council is supporting the Saturday Ceilidh and Angus Council not only sponsored our launch event in May, but is also providing a Taste of Angus lunch on the Market Makers tour.
their time, their counsel and their resources to us. We have
We are indebted to six marketing agencies involved in the
also got to know the outstanding professionals within their
British Guild and agriculture - they have given their time to
teams - it’s been fun working with you all.
support us for nothing. Thank you to ABC, O’Leary PR,
Our key sponsors are ANM, Harbro, Monsanto, Scottish
Pinstone, RDP, The Ad Plain and WAR.
Enterprise, Quality Meat Scotland, SRUC, Stagecoach
Finally, a mention to all of our other valued supporters
and Yara. ANM and Harbro have been instrumental in two
who have given time, food, funds and support. Your help
occasions at supporting - the whole of Friday’s agenda
has been invaluable and hugely appreciated. These are:
and ANM has given us huge in-kind support for the Ceilidh
Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society, ABP, Agrovista, Alltech,
evening - being held in memory of Joe Watson. Stagecoach
BAT, Bayer Crop Science, Bekina, British Sugar, Caltech,
is giving us ALL of our coach transport, for the whole five
Campbell Dallas, DeLaval, DuPont Pioneer, Forbes of
days of Congress, for nothing, they are going to all our
Kingennie, Glenlivet Distillery, Go Rural, Highland Cattle
hosts’ premises - with a coach - to check all that they need
Society, John Deere, Mackies, NFU Mutual, Philip Benzie,
to; nothing has been too much trouble. Monsanto is our
the Press & Journal, Rabobank, Scotland Food & Drink,
technology sponsor - funding, amongst other things, our
Scottish Farmer, Shepherd Publishing, Simmental Society,
Congress audio-visual and our website.
Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, Summer
Scottish Enterprise was one of our first sponsors to commit - they gave us funding to help us market the Congress at the outset of the planning. SRUC has given freely and generously of its time, its people and its venues - all free of
House Drinks and Taste of Grampian Producers. Please take time to meet the people representing our sponsors - many will be with us for the duration of the Congress. Without these businesses and individual believers in the British Guild and our IFAJ colleagues, we would not all be gathered here in Scotland for these five very memorable days.
Genius, creativity and diversity: share our values It’s with great pleasure that the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists welcomes you all to Britain, and specifically Scotland, for the 58th IFAJ Congress, Innovations from a Small Island. It’s a carefully chosen theme – a deliberate move to show how we, a small island nation, with a rich history of innovation and agricultural invention, are today rising to the challenge of feeding the world in the 21st century. Genius, creativity and diversity are the three qualities we seek to demonstrate to you – and while we know we don’t have all the answers, over the next five days we know you’ll find some of them. This third issue of Innovations is jam-packed. In its stories and content, written and contributed by Guild members, speakers, sponsors, hosts and other supporters of the British and Scottish agricultural industries, it’s our hope you’ll find inspiration and information in equal measure. Our intention is that you’ll leave here wanting to share your findings and observations with the world – because, for the British Guild, this event is not just an opportunity to host the IFAJ Congress; we’re also proudly representing our agricultural industry and demonstrating its strengths, qualities and potential. Our 2014 Congress marks the sixth time the British Guild has acted as host to the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists. Our very first event took place fifty-
Take pride in being part of that statistic, but don’t focus on that alone. We also want you to share your findings with each other while you’re in Scotland. Take advantage of being amongst 207 fellow delegates, plus a group of nearly 100 speakers, helpers, hosts and sponsors. Although we’ve got a busy five days ahead, packing a huge amount into a short time, don’t miss the opportunity to seek out old friends and make new acquaintances.
four years ago in Cambridge, in 1960. We have no formal records of the programme, its subject, nor those who
Early starts and late nights, yes; but that also means long
turned out to participate. Yet it’s a fair guess – Cambridge
days and extended coach journeys.
being the beating heart of Britain’s arable research base
That’s plenty of time to swap stories, techniques and ideas.
– that one of the ‘take home’ stories for delegates would
Find a contact on another continent. Get talking with the
have been Britain’s success in raising wheat yields: a 35%
Master Class delegates. Strike up a conversation with the
increase during the previous decade, hitting 4t/ha, and of
Young Leaders. Find out who the sponsors are, what they do
the prediction (subsequently fulfilled) that it would increase
and why they’ve chosen to support us. Make your Congress
another 25% by 1970.
a personal experience, as well as a professional one. Above
Who knows what facts and figures will most impress you as
all, enjoy Scotland, partake of our hospitality, and don’t forget
delegates in 2014? What we can say, thanks to the figures
to tell the world about our food and farming!
we recorded from you during registration, is that delegates
Adrian Bell
taking part this week will write, broadcast and blog to a global audience of more than 40 million. It’s an impressive figure: a huge vindication of the IFAJ’s recent work and its
Pre-Congress chairman IFAJ 2014 chairman Director, Whisper.pr
future strategy.
Innovations from a small island
3
Inside... 06
The Platinum Guild
08
Profiles of Lord Cameron of Dillington
10
& John Cameron 09
Full Congress Programme
10
A welcome from Aberdeenshire
12
A taste of British science and Scottish history
14
Congress’s date with history
16
Joe Watson: a tribute to a great man
18
IFAJ/Agriterra Master Class & Bootcamp
20
Massey Ferguson innovation for all
23
BBSRC: bioscience for life
24
Food from a small island: British commodities and the world
26
Ancestry and heritage
28
The History of the Kilt
29
Why innovation matters to Perkins as a sponsor
16
32 Scotland’s agricultural research: an emphasis
32
on innovation 34
Agri-Tech rises to farming’s challenges
36
Doric: the dialect of north east Scotland
38
When something clicked: photographer
26
Beverley Brown 40
Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme
42
Waitrose and innovation in farming
44
Tradition and innovation at ANM
46
Agritourism: defining the sector in Scotland
48
Scottish Food Exports: Now and the Future
50 A taste of success at the Congress 52
The wonderful world of Scotch whisky
54
A skill for growing malting barley
56 What’s a Ceilidh between friends?
4
Innovations from a small island
44
IFAJ 2014
48
52 64
58
Harbro: putting innovation in practice
60
Stagecoach Group: delivering greener, smarter travel
62
Tradition, Quality and Innovation: hallmarks of the Scottish Red Meat Industry
64
Using innovation and collaboration to feed the world
66
The Scottish Association of Young Farmers
67
What is the Huntly Hairst?
68
We are Yara UK Limited
70
Bursary winners at IFAJ 2014
72
Breeds apart: profile on Scottish cattle
74
Our Congress Journey
76
Public Relation providers
78
Crown Estate funded bike trails help build a strong local community
80
Scottish Tourism: a multi-billion pound industry
82
Finzean Estate: the Fair Place
84
Social media: helping to fill a gap
86
Farmers Guardian: 170 years of farming service
88
Perpetual Progress at Farmers Weekly
90
Still serving Scottish farmers after 120 years: The Scottish Farmer
92
A great North-East Scotland tradition
94
UK Farming Historic Timeline
96
Net result for public-private technology collaboration
97
Delegate list and contact details
80
78
BC Sponsors & supporters
A BGAJ Publication 3 Whitehall Court LONDON SW1A 2EL www.bgaj.org.uk www.ifaj2014.com
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Innovations from a small island
5
The Platinum Guild By Peter Hill, BGAJ Member Communications With perfect timing, members of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists are hosting their sixth IFAJ Congress in the year they celebrate the 70th anniversary of their organisation – a Platinum Jubilee!
brates the best of The annual Harvest Lunch cele Guild members. of work the and British produce
T
he Guild – succinctly described by one of its
largely for the benefit of full-time farming correspondents
founding members as a brotherhood of the
on national newspapers such as The Times, Daily Express,
agricultural press – is enjoying one of the most
Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and the like.
energetic periods in its history, with a varied programme of events that offer many different opportunities for education,
For the leading politicians invited to attend, including Government agriculture ministers and other influential
new experiences and enjoyment, both in Britain and around
people, it was an efficient way of giving informal briefings to
the World.
journalists on policies and priorities.
It all began in 1944 when the Guild was formed, not
Early meetings of the Guild’s management Council were
because a group of journalists thought of the idea but at
held in The Farmers Club located in Whitehall amidst
the suggestion of Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith, agriculture
Government buildings and overlooking the River Thames; it
minister in the British Government in 1939 and 1940. He
is now the Guild’s registered address and still the Council’s
believed that having informal contact with the farming
regular meeting place between virtual meetings online.
media through an agricultural reporters’ organisation would
The 1950s and 1960s were a flourishing period for
be useful.
agricultural journalism in Britain, since post-war rationing
When that vision became reality, the first members of the
had opened many eyes to the importance and news value
management Council picked up on the theme but with
of food production, with its political and technical issues.
a social element. Informal lunches in agreeable London
The launch of new national and regional titles, as well as
locations became a central feature of Guild activities,
the rise of specialist publications covering mechanisation,
6
Innovations from a small island
arable and dairy farming, and commercial horticulture,
There may no longer be informal lunches with agriculture
brought more people into journalism and into the Guild. In
ministers. But in its 70th year, the Guild continues to
1957, the Guild accepted its 100th member; 30 years later,
promote the interests of all involved in telling the many and
membership exceeded 500.
varied stories of Britain’s great agricultural industry.
Not that the organisation was ‘pure’ any more. Associate membership was created to accommodate those in
Charitable Trust
commercial communications – press and public relations
One of the notable achievements of the Guild has been the
– who did not earn their livelihood ‘wholly or mainly’ by
establishment of a Charitable Trust to help members and
agricultural journalism, as the rules required. Associates
their families when they fall on hard times. The Trustees
progressively wielded more influence in the organisation,
provide confidential advice and practical help, and can also
often being more willing to help run Guild affairs than their
draw on revenues from a capital fund to provide emergency
journalist counterparts, and as the distinction between the
cash payments to cover essentials such as food, electricity
role of journalists (particularly freelancers) and PR agents
and gas bills, for retraining or other educational purposes,
has become increasingly blurred, the Guild settled on a
and for healthcare related services.
single class of membership.
Peter Bullen, Guild Chairman in 1993-94, conceived the
The Guild has continued to adapt; the number of Council
idea of the Trust and made a big contribution to the initial
members has been halved and online meetings alternate
fund by running the London Marathon on five occasions to
with physical ones to mitigate costs; communication with
raise cash.
members is now more frequent through a website, monthly e-newsletters, Facebook and Twitter.
Sponsored walks, fund-raising social events, legacies in members’ wills and generous contributions by members
There is an expanding professional development programme
and guests at the Guild’s annual Harvest Service and Lunch
and an increasing number of professional awards.
have increased the capital sum considerably over the years.
The Guild offers more opportunities for members to meet
The performance of investments over that time does mean
and socialise at agricultural shows and technical events,
that the Trust can still offer only modest financial assistance
and is actively involved in the new European agricultural
– but it is always gratefully received by those who find
journalists’ organisation ENAJ, as well as the IFAJ.
themselves in difficulty. But the time given by Trustees to
Together with a more ambitious Harvest Service at St Brides in Fleet Street and a Harvest Lunch that showcases British produce in one of London’s magnificent and historic livery halls, these initiatives have helped reverse a temporary
providing advice and practical assistance – or simply a sympathetic ear – is often of greatest value to journalists and other communicators in need of support. www.gaj.org.uk
slide in membership, which now stands close to the 500 mark once again. Left: Catching up with a beer and a banger at one of the Guild’s regular gettogethers.
Above: Journalist Don Gomery was the British Guild’s general secretary for 25 years, a milestone celebrated in 2009 when he received a commemorative certificate from the President, Margaret, the Countess of Mar. Sadly, Don died less than six months later. He was also a keen supporter of the IFAJ in his role as the Guild’s executive committee representative.
Above: Guild members get practical tips at a training workshop on shooting video for the web.
Innovations from a small island
7
Profiles A message from the President of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists, Lord Cameron of Dillington “As someone who has always
the Countryside Agency, a body set up to improve the rural
tried to promote the best
environment.
modern agriculture based on the best modern research, both in the UK and in the developing world, I am very conscious of the important role played by journalists in
This experience meant the prime Minister turned to him to be the Government’s Rural Advocate between 2000 and 2004, a time of low commodity prices when the news was dominated by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease. He subsequently became a Lord and he now sits in the
telling the story and spreading the message. I hope this
House of Lords as an independent peer where he is a
international congress will give us all a chance to learn and in
member of the Chamber’s Agriculture, Environment,
doing so help others to learn - and I’m also sure we will enjoy
Energy and Fisheries committee and chairs the All Party
ourselves while we do it.”
Parliamentary group on Agriculture, Food and Development
Over the last 20 years Governments have turned to Lord Cameron for advice on the countryside, relying on his
as well as the Government’s Global Food Security Programme strategy board.
knowledge that stems from running a farming estate in
Other roles include trusteeship of Rothamsted Research
Somerset and a career in public life.
and a number of commercial directorships.
In 1995, Ewen became the President of Country
Ewen is married with four children and two grandchildren.
Landowners Association which represents rural businesses and four years later he was appointed the first chairman of
The train-driving farmer: John Cameron, Honorary Congress President John Cameron has spent
formed Quality Meat Scotland as well as being involved
a career promoting and
in the Scottish branches of the national cattle and beef
representing British and
associations.
Scottish agriculture. With his wife Margaret, he farms in East Fife where he runs a 250-strong head of suckler cows and a pedigree herd of Hereford cattle. Quality and animal welfare are central to his farming approach. He was recognised as a strong advocate for the Scottish farming industry early on in his career and was appointed President of the National Farmers Union of Scotland in 1978 at the age of 39 having already chaired its hill farming and livestock committee. This role took him to Brussels where he helped develop the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy and led him to chairing the Meats Group of the International Federation of Agricultural Producers. After leaving his NFUS role, John chaired the Scottish Beef Council and became a board member of the newly
8
Innovations from a small island
John’s other passion is railways and he can boast that he owns a locomotive, the Union of South Africa, that still operates on the mainline network. He is a fully qualified train driver and has served on the board of British Rail. He acts as an adviser for Perth-based international transport company Stagecoach and was recently appointed as a director of South west trains. His many honours including a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), a George Headley award for outstanding contribution to the British sheep industry, a Sir William Young award for contribution to animal breeding and an honorary doctorate of technology from Napier University for services to the railway industry. When he gets spare time, he enjoys shooting and fishing.
Congress programme THURSDAY 4 SEP From a.m.
Delegates arrive at Aberdeen Airport Pre-Congress attendees arrive at Aberdeen Station
08:00-18:00
Registration: Thistle Hotel
09:00-10:30
IFAJ Presidium Meeting, Premier Suite, Thistle Hotel
10:30
Coach departs Thistle Hotel: optional visit to Finzean Estate
11:00-14:30
IFAJ Executive Meeting, Premier Suite, Thistle Hotel
15:00
Coach departs Finzean Estate
16:00
Finzean tour returns to Thistle Hotel
16:30-18:00
IFAJ Delegate Assembly, Houston Suite, Thistle Hotel
18:30
Coach leaves Thistle Hotel, for Aberdeen
19:00
Arrival at Beach Ballroom, for Welcome to Scotland dinner
23:00
Coaches depart for return to hotels
FRIDAY 5 SEP 08:00
Coaches depart Thistle Hotel for Thainstone Mart
08:45
Arrival at Thainstone
09:00
Welcome and introduction to the Congress
09:30-13:00
Painting a Strategic Picture of Scotland Seminar
13:00 Lunch 14:00-14:45
‘Finding your feet at IFAJ2014’
14:45
Coaches depart from Thainstone for Mackies Farm
15:15
Arrival at Mackies: Farm Tour & Workshop Activity Sessions
18:30
Barbecue and IFAJ Awards
21:00
IFAJ band
23:00
Coaches depart for return to hotels
SATURDAY 6 SEP 06:15-07:00
Departure of coaches from Thistle Hotel for the Innovation Tours
17:00-17:30
Arrival back at hotels
18:45
Depart Thistle Hotel: Taste of Grampian Dinner & Ceilidh, Thainstone
23:30-01:00
Coach shuttle service to hotels
SUNDAY 7 SEP 06:15-07:00
Departure of coaches from Thistle Hotel for the Innovation Tours
17:00-17:30
Arrival back at hotels
18:15
Depart Thistle Hotel: IFAJ 2014 Gala Dinner, Raemoir House
Midnight 00:00
Coach shuttle service to hotels
monDAY 8 SEP 07:30
Rise and shine breakfast; check out from hotels
09:00-12:00
Professional Development Workshop: Innovations in Social Media
12:00-13:30
Lunch and close of Congress
12:15
Post-Congress attendees leave for Aberdeen Airport
Innovations from a small island
9
A welcome from Aberdeenshire Aberdeen and the countryside surrounding it are playing host to IFAJ 2014. The city has been economically and strategically important for hundreds of years.
The first Aberdonians inhabited the
Aberdeen recovered from a downturn following the end
region more than 8,000 years ago,
of Napoleonic wars in the early 19th Century and its
with King David the First of Scotland
shipbuilding and fishing industries made it wealthy allowing
bestowing Royal Burgh status on
for the construction of the buildings that give it the title
Aberdeen in the 12th Century. Soon after the City developed two main areas – Old Aberdeen at the mouth of the River Don (from which the city takes its name) and New Aberdeen where the fishing industry was centred. In the 14th Century the city was under English rule, but it
of ‘The Granite City’. Today, notable buildings and areas include St Machar’s Cathedral, Union Street and its 45 parks and gardens. As the power of the fishing industry waned, the North Sea provided Aberdeen with another resource that was to make it one of the richest cities in the United Kingdom – oil. Since the
was taken back into Scottish hands by legendary Scots’
1970s more than 40 billion barrels of oil have been pumped
ruler Robert the Bruce who laid siege to its castle – he
out of the North Sea with up to 40 years of production still
and fellow Scottish hero William Wallace (made famous
remaining. In the process Aberdeen has become the centre
by Mel Gibson) still grace the city in statue form. Over the
of the British oil industry creating around 50,000 jobs.
years the city’s proximity to the North Sea meant it became
Aberdeen’s historic and economic wealth mean that it
important to warring factions including Royalists in the Civil
attracts international businesses, conferences and cultural
War of the 1640s and to merchants over hundreds of years.
events. As well as being home to the IFAJ 2014 Congress,
But the City also became a seat of learning and in 1495
the city also hosts the Aberdeen International Youth Festival
Aberdeen followed St Andrews and Glasgow in establishing
every year, one of the largest events of its kind in the world.
a University. It should be noted that while Oxford and
Although cosmopolitan, Aberdeen still retains what
Cambridge Universities were founded in the 12th and 13th
has made it so strong for so many years – an air of
Centuries, the University of London was not established
dependability and of quiet but genuine welcome which I’m
until 1836.
sure that you will experience.
10
Innovations from a small island
The farms beyond the City Aberdeenshire is sometimes described as the largest contiguous block of arable land north of Yorkshire. It covers approximately 518,000 ha of agricultural land, a third of
Agriculture Advisory Group (NESAAG), a cross-sectoral
which is rough grazing on the eastern edge of the Grampian
partnership drawn from the public and private sectors
Mountains, leaving around 324,000ha of lowland split
comprising four local authorities, Scottish Enterprise
equally between crops and grass.
and HIE Moray, agriculture, forestry, food safety and
A very wide variety of agricultural enterprises can be found
environment agencies, academic and research institutions
here in intimate mixture, from intensive and extensive
and industry and farming sector representatives.
livestock to arable cropping, eggs and horticulture
A wide range of issues affecting the sector are discussed
(especially soft fruit and vegetables) – indeed there is
at the group’s regular meetings which also feature
scarcely a farm business type found in Scotland which is
presentations from leading figures from industry - and
not represented in Aberdeenshire. And while the area has
authority – to enable members to ask questions directly.
just 9% of Scotland’s agricultural land, it accounts for a
Through the council, the group is very active in making
much higher proportion of national output of most crops
representations on behalf of the sector in NE Scotland.
and livestock, and of farm labour. Although Aberdeenshire is perhaps best known for beef production it also typically produces around 40% of Scotland’s malting barley and oilseed rape.
The council is also very proud of the quality and reputation of agriculture, food and drink in Aberdeenshire and is committed to helping the sector to promote its positive message to the wider world - typically by providing financial support to cattle
Agriculture and the related food and drink sector is
breed societies and other organisations to bring national and
recognised by Aberdeenshire Council as a key element
international events to the area. Such events really don’t come
of the economy of Aberdeenshire; this is reflected in the
any bigger than the Annual Congress of the International
Council’s Economic Development Strategy (2011-16)
Federation of Agricultural Journalists.
which commits it to assisting the land-based industry ‘to develop innovative and collaborative approaches in order to maximise their ability to exploit market opportunities and underpin their long term viability’. The council works with its key partners to provide business support – to add value to farm produce and recover more value from co-products, to encourage business diversification including the generation of renewable energy and, importantly, to promote resource efficiency. The strategy also commits the council to lobbying at EU, UK and Scottish level on issues of importance to
See www.aberdeencity.gov.uk and www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk
image: Press & Journal
agriculture in Aberdeenshire. The council hosts NE Scotland
Aberdeenshire Council is therefore delighted to play its part to help showcase our enterprising and innovative farmers - and their wonderful range of high quality local produce - to such a well-informed and influential group of international delegates. Welcome to Aberdeenshire! And haste ye back!
Aberdeen, the Granite City with a rich history and vibrant present
Mackie’s innovative Aberdeenshire dairy farm and host for a Congress tour
Innovations from a small island
11
Innovation timeline Britain is a small island (slightly smaller than Oregon according to the CIA Factbook), but it has a truly global reach when it comes to science and commerce. Here is a rundown of 400 years of Innovation.
1616
1616
1623
1660
Physician William Harvey publishes his theory of blood circulation
William Shakespeare dies. Global interest in him and other writers helps spread English across the world
Sir Francis Bacon argues for a scientific approach to human development
Royal Society founded to fund and regulate science research
1796
1700s
1712
1687
Edward Jenner uses the first vaccine to tackle Smallpox
Scots David Hume and Adam Smith increase the understanding of human nature and economics
Thomas Newcomen develops first successful steam engine
Sir Isaac Newton publishes his theories on gravitation
1798
1807
1809
1843
Thomas Malthus’s Principle of Population discusses feeding a growing world population
Slave Trade Act outlaws the trade in slaves with ban on slave ownership following 25 years later
Radical and inspiration for American Revolution Thomas Paine dies
Sir Isambard Kingdom Brunel launches SS Great Britain, the first iron propeller driven ship
1917
18-1900s
1859
1850s
Ernest Rutherford splits the atom prompting a nuclear reaction
Karl Marx and Sigmund Freud demonstrate Britain is a place for foreigners to develop ideas
Charles Darwin explains his theory of evolution
Mary Seacole and Florence Nightingale develop science of nursing
1919
1920
1928
1930
1944
Alcock and Brown are first to fly the Atlantic
Marie Stopes pioneers birth control
Sir Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin antibiotic
Frank Whittle invents jet engine
First modern computer developed at Bletchley Park
1977
1967
1964
1952
Test tube baby Louise Brown is born in Manchester
Cicely Saunders develops system of end of life hospice care
Peter Higgs develops his bosun particle physics theory which is proved 50 years later
James Watson, Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin discover structure of DNA
1989
2000s
20-2010
Tim Berners Lee develops the worldwide web
British scientists help map human, wheat and other genomes
Manchester University team develops super material graphene
12
Innovations from a small island
400 years
Scotland through the ages 1100s
1296
1297
1298
1305
The Kingdom of Alba emerges
Edward I of England invades Scotland
William Wallace and Andrew de Moray defeat an English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge
Wallace is defeated by Edward I at the Battle of Falkirk
Wallace is executed by the English for treason
1587
1320
1314
1307
1306
The Catholic Mary Queen of Scots is executed on orders of Elizabeth I
The Declaration of Arbroath is sent to Pope John XXII and proclaims Scotland’s an independent sovereign state
Robert the Bruce defeats Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn
Edward I dies
Robert the Bruce is crowned King of Scotland
1603
1644-45
1646
The union of the crowns makes James VI of Scotland also James I of England. The kingdoms of England and Scotland become sovereign states
A Scottish civil war between Scottish Royalists and Covenanters is fought. The Scottish Royalists enjoy early victories but are ultimately defeated
Charles I surrenders to the Scottish Covenanter army in England bringing an end to the first English Civil War
1707
1668
1651-54
The Act of Union of 1707 merges England and Scotland into a single state of Great Britain, creating a single parliament at Westminster
The Glorious Revolution takes place. The catholic James II is replaced by his protestant daughter Mary and her Dutch husband, William III of Orange
Royalist uprisings spread across Scotland. Dunnottar Castle is the last stronghold to fall to the English Parliament’s troops
1708
1715
1745
James Francis Edward Stuart, the ‘Old Pretender’, attempts an invasion with a French fleet. The Royal Navy prevents it from landing
The Earl of Mar leads the second Jacobite rising which is quashed at the Battle of Preston
The final Jacobite rising begins. ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ captures Edinburgh and defeats the only government army in Scotland at the Battle of Prestonpans
1790 onwards
Post-1746
1746
The Highland Clearances take place. Highlanders are displaced and many find themselves living in cities, or abroad in Canada, America and Australia
The catastrophe of Culloden heralds the collapse of the clan system
The Jacobites are crushed at the Battle of Culloden. Charles returns to France where he spends the rest of his life in exile
1790-1815
1814
1914-18
The Napoleonic Wars bring economic prosperity to the Highlands. A number of young men join the Armed Services with many choosing to settle abroad after being discharged
One of the most infamous and brutal periods in the Highland Clearances takes place on the estate of the Duke of Sutherland
Scotland plays a significant role in the First World War
2004
1997
1979
1939-45
The new Scottish Parliament Building in Edinburgh opens
A referendum is again held on the issue of devolution for Scotland. This time successful, a devolved Parliament is established in Edinburgh in 1999, the first in almost 300 yrs
A referendum on Scottish devolution is held but is unsuccessful
The Second World War. The shipbuilding yards, industrial works and factories in Glasgow play a key role in the war effort
Innovations from a small island
13
Congress’s date with history Andrew Arbuckle discusses this month’s momentous Scottish Independence referendum.
A
lthough the organisers of the IFAJ congress in Scotland did not know it when the Congress was first awarded to Scotland, it is being held at a
pivotal moment in the country’s history. In less than two weeks’ time, voters in Scotland will take part in a referendum to decide whether to stay in the United Kingdom or become an independent country. As a delegate you will already have seen posters promoting Better Together from the campaigners wanting to keep the UK in one piece. You will also have seen billboards proclaiming Yes by those wanting independence. As a delegate you are witnessing the final steps towards a decision that will decide the future of the five million plus residents in Scotland. For some Scots it is an opportunity to break free from its larger neighbour, England and stand on its own feet. For others it is a jump into the unknown with many, major economic question marks.
The history between Scotland and England
More recent history Following the Union, the first real rise in Scottish Nationalism took place in the years following the Great War (1914-18). Some of the initial anger was based on the disproportionately heavier loss of Scottish lives in this conflict with one in five men between the ages of 18 and 30 losing their lives in the conflict; a higher percentage than from other parts of the UK. But it was not until the late 1960s that the Scottish National Party (SNP) emerged as a political force when they gained their first MP in the UK Government.
The next surge in nationalism came with the discovery of substantial deposits of oil in the North Sea. Under a banner of “It’s Scotland’s oil” ten SNP MPs – out of 72 Scottish MPs - were elected to Westminster in 1979. However that was a twenty year high point for the Party.
Just over 300 years ago in 1707, Scotland and England
The arrival of the Scottish Parliament
joined together in the Act of the Union, thus creating
For the past fifteen years, Scotland has operated with a
the major part of what was called the United Kingdom. For hundreds of years previously the two countries had fought each other and the Scottish landscape is dotted with battlefields, such as Culloden, Bannockburn and Prestonpans, marking these conflicts. When the Union between Scotland and England came
devolved government which is based in Edinburgh. There, the 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament make policies and decide budgets for health, education, policing and planning; in fact everything apart from defence and foreign policy which are still decided by the UK Parliament in Westminster, London.
about it did so not as a result of a military victory but from
Agricultural policy is also within the remit of the Scottish
the fallout of an economically disastrous adventure; the
Parliament although policies must remain within the
Darien scheme. After looking enviously at their English
confines of the UK membership of the European Union.
neighbours who were colonising different parts of the world
Following the most recent Scottish Parliament election in
and financially benefitting from building a worldwide network of countries, the Scottish hierarchy decided to set up their own empire. In the later 1690s they chose a site in present day Panama in Central America and they invested around one third of the total Scottish budget in trying to develop this site into a major trading post. But disease and food shortages soon swept through Caledonia as the colony was called. It became a major financial disaster and it forced the Scottish
2012, the SNP currently holds a slim majority of the seats and thus forms the Government.
Referendum Battleground The main plank of the SNP has been the creation of an independent Scotland which they believe will provide a fairer and wealthier country. They are supported in this by the Green Party. However, they are opposed by the other main
noblemen to the negotiating table that produced the Act of
UK-wide political parties; Conservatives, Liberal Democrats
Union. Part of the agreement saw the Scottish noblemen
and Labour who have, temporarily, joined under the Better
recompensed for their losses.
Together campaign aiming to keep Scotland part of the UK.
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Innovations from a small island
The main areas of disagreement in the current debate are: Currency where the ‘Yes’ campaigners want to continue to use the
Profile of Alex Salmond First Minister,
pound while the ‘Better Together’ team say they might not allow this
Alex Salmond
to happen
has dominated Scottish politics
Nuclear Weapons where the ‘Yes’ campaign want to get rid of the
for the past
nuclear submarines based in Scotland while the Better Together team
seven years and
want to retain a nuclear deterrent.
he is currently
Membership of the EU where both sides want to remain in Europe but where there are doubts raised by the Better Together side that an independent Scotland might have to go through a lengthy period of accession because the UK not Scotland is the current Member State. This point of view is disputed by the Yes campaign. Apart from the economic arguments, there is a strong emotional
driving the campaign aimed at making Scotland independent. On the 18th of September the people of Scotland will vote in a referendum which will decide whether to become independent or remain part of the United Kingdom (UK).
divide. This has been called the Braveheart factor after a film starring
He is the fourth First Minister to lead the
Mel Gibson portayed a Scotland fighting for its freedom. Better
Scottish Parliament which has devolved
Together campaigners believe this can be achieved without any political split. Yes campaigners feel only total independence will give this freedom.
Farming issues and the referendum Most of the concerns in the agricultural industry are linked to EU
powers from the UK Government, following its establishment in 1999 but his entry into full time politics came more than a decade earlier in 1987 following his election as Member of the United Kingdom Parliament for the Banff and Buchan constituency. Born on the last day of December in 1954
membership. Scottish farmers currently receive almost £500 million
in Linlithgow, Alex Salmond’s involvement in
annually through the CAP and an interruption to that cash would
politics emerged during his time as a student
severely cripple the farming industry. The Yes campaigners have verbally assured the industry the Scottish Government would fill any funding gap The future relationship with England is also a concern as much of the
in St Andrews. He served as an oil economist at the Royal Bank of Scotland as Scotland developed its North Sea oil industry. He was elected First Minister in 2007 and worked with a minority SNP Government
produce, in particular beef, lamb, potatoes and soft fruit from Scottish
throughout that term of office. His
farms ends up with English consumers.
achievement was recognised later that year
Scotland is noted for its world class research work and receives more
with the Spectator Parliamentarian of the Year award. Following the next Scottish Parliament
than its per capita share of research cash as a consequence. Any
election in 2012, the SNP increased their vote
reduction in financial support would affect the amount and quality of
and took a narrow majority of the seats thus
scientific work.
Who is entitled to vote? Everyone resident and registered in Scotland over the age of sixteen.
sealing his position as First Leader. Apart from the thrust towards independence for Scotland his Government has run with a strong agenda on Climate Change. This includes supporting renewable energy projects
The celebrity factor in the referendum.
where Scotland can utilise a large number of
Better Together has high profile support from, among others, JK Rowling
power. Aside from politics, Alex Salmond has
of Harry Potter fame, Sir David Attenborough and Sir Alec Ferguson
taken a keen interest in horse racing and in
while the Yes campaign is supported by Sean Connery, Brian Cox and
football he supports Heart of Midlothian.
natural phenomena such as wind and wave
comedian Frankie Boyle.
What will be the result? The polls indicate a slight majority in favour of staying within the UK but
Get Connected
elections are not won on polls but on people voting.
www.ifaj2014.com
Andrew Arbuckle is the Farming Editor of the Scotsman and winner of the
@ifaj2014
2012 British Guild of Agricultural Journalists’s Netherthorpe Communicator
IFAJ2014
of the Year Award.
Innovations from a small island
15
Joe Watson: a Tribute to a great man By Jane Craigie, Chairman BGAJ
O
ne man did more than any other to bring IFAJ 2014 to North-East Scotland, but tragically he will only be joining us in spirit.
Joe Watson, the ‘father’ of the 2014 IFAJ Congress and Farming Editor at the Press & Journal, died suddenly on 6 March 2014 at his home in Turriff, after a period of ill-health. He was just 43. He leaves behind his devoted mother Mirren, his brothers Fraser and Murdo and a niece and nephew on whom he doted.
The tributes paid to ‘Big Joe’ were both warm and highly respectful of his dedication to his job and to the farming industry. Words of sorrow and praise came from the highest echelons of Government, the length and breadth of the Scottish farming industry and from his many friends and colleagues.
The British Guild will hold the 2014 IFAJ Congress in Joe’s memory. My enduring memories of Joe are that he was a man of staunch principle, he was a prolific writer and an oracle on so many things. We didn’t always see eye-to-eye - and many have echoed these words; but I never once doubted that any issue that he raised with any one of us wasn’t fuelled by his passion and by his deep-rooted sense of what was right. He loved farming and was an immensely proud Scot; but above all of this he was an incredibly capable and respected self-titled ‘hack’.
Some of the tributes: “He was a larger than life character known to everyone in the farming communities of the north east and far beyond. As befits a man from Turriff, his knowledge of Scottish farming was unsurpassed, and no-one had better contacts in both the agricultural and food sectors. He was never afraid to ask the awkward question and he put me on the
Joe was about to stand down from the British Guild Council
spot on several occasions. In September, the International
on which he served for over a decade as Chairman and,
Federation of Agricultural Journalists annual congress will
more latterly, the British IFAJ Rep. Joe was planning to
be held in Aberdeen for the first time in 40 years - they
remain very much involved in organising the 2014 Congress
say that Joe was the main reason they agreed to come to
- an event that is coming to Scotland because of him.
Scotland.” Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland.
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Innovations from a small island
“I’m shocked and saddened to hear we have lost Joe Watson and can’t quite believe that he is no longer with us. I have known and worked with Joe for over 20 years since his days as a local reporter. He was one of Scotland’s most respected agricultural journalists, who knew the industry and all the issues inside out. It seemed everywhere I went, there was Joe doing his job. He was a very popular and respected giant in Scottish farming and his passing will leave a huge hole in our lives. No one who knew him will ever forget both his inquiring, challenging and direct manner and determination not just to get the story, but to get the truth. Joe was much more than your average journalist - he was an institution. And that is irreplaceable. He will be very sadly missed.” Richard Lochhead, Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary. “Joe’s untimely death is a great loss to the agricultural community. No other region of the UK has enjoyed such in-depth coverage on a daily basis.” Graham Baxter, MD of Harbro, sponsor of the Congress Friday afternoon programme and evening at Mackies Farm.
Joe Watson with IFAJ colleagues Ida Frans, Jef Verhaeren and Gilberte Cuppens
The Saturday night Congress Ceilidh will be dedicated to Joe Watson. Press & Journal editor Damian Bates will make his own tribute and he has organised 50 bottles of Glendronach Whisky to help celebrate Joe’s life. Joe’s mother Mirren and his brothers Fraser and Murdo will also
“I have always had a huge respect for Joe’s honesty,
be at the Ceilidh where Fraser will read the poem by David
integrity and tenacity. He will be sorely missed.” Angus
L Weatherford he recited at Joe’s funeral.
McCall, Scottish Tenant Farmer Association Director.
“Joe was a consummate professional with an amazing ability to report complex stories. He will be greatly missed by those who appreciated his friendship as well as his expert approach to his subject.” Struan Stevenson, MEP.
Slow Dance
“It is unbelievable that Joe Watson passed away. How
time is short, the music won’t last.
could this happen so suddenly? I am saddend to hear this.
Do you run through each day on the fly,
Just remember all the days we spent with him the last half
when you ask “How are you?”, do you hear the reply?
year in Berlin, Charmey and Argentina! Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.” Markus Rediger, Switzerland (IFAJ President) “I hope those of you who attended the IFAJ closing dinner at our executive meeting in Berlin in January take some
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round, or listened to rain slapping the ground? Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight, or gazed at the sun fading into the night? You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
When the day is done, do you lie in your bed, with the next hundred chores running through your head? You better slow down, don’t dance so fast, time is short, the music won’t last.
comfort knowing Joe understood then, through our tribute
Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow,
to him, how much he meant to us, and how we valued
and in your haste, not see his sorrow?
him as a person and as a professional. Now, it seems so bittersweet that at that farewell dinner we together with Joe sang Auld Lang Syne (“We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for
Ever lost touch, let a friendship die, ‘cause you never had time to call and say hi?
auld lang syne.”). I propose that be one of the many ways
You better slow down, don’t dance so fast,
we pay tribute to Joe this year at the congress in Scotland,
time is short, the music won’t last.
at which we’ll have the opportunity to walk where he walked and remember him in his homeland.” Owen Roberts, Canada (IFAJ Vice-President)
When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day,
To read many other tributes to Joe from around the world go to: www.gaj.org.uk/news/ joe-watson
it’s like an unopened gift thrown away. Life isn’t a race, so take it slower, hear the music before your song is over.
Innovations from a small island
17
IFAJ/Agriterra Master Class Developing skills and contacts Before the 2010 IFAJ congress in Belgium, the first Master Class for journalists and communicators from emerging countries was developed. Agriterra and its Belgian colleague Trias organized a two-day class for journalists from African, Asian and Latin American countries that were not members of the IFAJ. “Over the course of the years, the Master Class fitted perfectly within the 2020 IFAJ strategy,” says Josephine van Gelder, IFAJ’s global manager and organizer of the program since the start.
“It is a skill development and leadership program for the participating journalists. Most of these journalists are linked to the farmers organisations in their home country which means that these organisations also benefit from the skills and the networking that their staff member gains.” “By combining our program with the Alltech Young Leaders, we will again have all continents represented, bringing tremendous energy to the group and leading to lots of interesting discussions on our profession,” enthuses Josephine. “This years’ program will focus on innovation, from a farmer’s perspective, from the industry perspective and from the journalist’s perspective. This year we are also very excited that there will be a Q&A session with the UK minister through a video conference link! I’m sure both Jospehine van Gelder
And it is these outcomes that interested Agriterra and persuaded it to support the event. As well as the skills gained, the program also leads to valuable contacts in countries where the IFAJ had no presence before and in some cases this has already led to the establishment of more farm journalists’ guilds which could potentially join the IFAJ. The Master Class is also sponsored by DuPont Pioneer and British American Tobacco. “Both sponsors have shown great interest in the program, which means we do not only profit from their funds, but also from their expertise.” says Josephine. The Master Class offers 10 journalists/communicators a seat in the program and participation in the IFAJ congress.
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Innovations from a small island
classes will love this opportunity.”
Young Leaders program develops future of IFAJ The IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Award recognizes the leadership potential of young members from countries belonging to IFAJ, and supports their participation at an IFAJ congress. idea exchange and help the participants gain a more global perspective on agricultural communications challenges around the world. Instructors include top agricultural journalists and communications professionals. The program is administered and executed by several IFAJ members, including vice-president Roberts as a key faculty member, Secretary General Riitta Mustonen from Finland as the entry coordinator,
Master Class and Young Leaders in Buenos Aires in 2013
treasurer James Campbell of Ireland and global manager The program combines two of IFAJ’s basic tenets:
Jose van Gelder as coordinator of the Master Class. Guest
professional development and youth development, says
faculty this year include Enrique Yeves, chief of corporate
vice-president Owen Roberts of Canada. He founded the
communications for the United Nations Food and Agriculture
program nine years ago with Alltech’s then communications
Organization, speaking on how his organization uses social
manager for North America Billy Frey, a long-time friend of IFAJ. It was developed with stimulus and input from IFAJ member Branko Vrabec of Slovenia. “The federation and Alltech believe it is important to support and nurture those who are destined to develop in the profession, to help IFAJ grow and to contribute positively to the global advancement of agricultural journalism and communications,” says Roberts.
media to communicate with journalists, as well as Alltech’s John Thornton, sales manager for Northern Ireland. Secretary General Mustonen says the program has shown its potential in helping young journalists be aware of global issues, while they work together with journalists from all over the world. “We have seen how these young leaders quickly build an international network using social media. During the boot camp and following the congress they gain professional contacts and build personal friendships across
The award offers 10 travel scholarship opportunities for young
borders,” she says.
members of the federation. Guilds nominate candidates 35
When the program’s 10th anniversary arrives next year,
years of age or younger for these scholarships. The key is
almost 100 young agricultural journalists will have benefitted
that they must have leadership potential, most notably by
from it.
having been active in their home guilds and showing interest in helping keep their guild vibrant. In 2011, this award was expanded to include a unique two-day “boot camp.” This exercise is designed to enhance their professional development skills, promote
Read more about the IFAJ-Alltech Young Leaders in Agricultural Journalism Award and winners on the IFAJ website: www.ifaj.org/contests-awards/ young-leaders-award.html
Innovations from a small island
19
YOUR FARM YOUR CHOICE
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FREE SPECIFICATION UPGRADE WORTH UP TO £6,500 ON THE MF 6616 FREE 12 MONTHS/2000 HOUR WARRANTY PLUS A FREE DRIVERS KIT Contact your local dealer or contact us on 01628 488441 or uk.sales@AGCOCorp.com www.masseyferguson.co.uk
is a worldwide brand of AGCO.
Massey Ferguson innovation for all Since its formation, more than 50 years ago, Massey Ferguson has led the way in introducing machinery innovations to benefit all farmers, whether they are the most advanced professionals in north east Scotland or emerging producers in Africa.
“L
ook at any modern machine and you will find
operations this carries out relies on on-machine automation.
that in almost every element Massey Ferguson
Again this innovation was another first from Massey Ferguson
has been at the forefront of developments,”
when it introduced Autotronic and Datatronic control on the
says Campbell Scott, Director, Sales Engineering and MF Brand Development. “One of our founders, Harry Ferguson, invented the three point linkage, which is now found on every modern tractor. More recently we were
MF 3000 Series – years ahead of any other manufacturer. “Indeed, when you look back many of our innovations have been viewed as ‘too advanced’ or ahead of their time,”
the first to introduce Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR)
says Campbell Scott. “But as we now know, this type of
engine technology, again now employed by every other
technology has become part of the mainstream. Like the
manufacturer.”
farmers we will visit on the IFAJ congress tours, Massey
Massey Ferguson pioneered yield mapping on combines – an innovation that has now developed into advanced
Ferguson looks beyond fulfilling the obvious need and invests in innovations that we see will be required in the future.”
precision farming systems that are being employed on most
While many of the developments centre on the use of
dynamic, professional farms across the world. Many of the
advanced engineering in engine, transmissions and hydraulics
20
Innovations from a small island
as well, of course, in electronic control with data management, innovation is not be restricted to ‘high-tech’, he adds. “More than three-quarters of all tractors sold across the globe are less than 100hp. These are often employed by smaller farmers or on farms in developing countries and, until now, have relied on earlier engineering designs and components. But thanks to a $350 million investment in innovation specifically for this sector, we have recently unveiled the new Massey Ferguson Global tractor series. “These state-of-the-art tractors are a completely new, clean sheet design. They are developed specifically to provide utterly dependable operation in a wide range of applications to meet the needs of a diverse range of farmers world-wide. “The Massey Ferguson Global Series has been designed and built in the 21st Century and is purpose-built for modern applications. While using the very latest, sophisticated
“It may come as a big surprise to many but one of our company’s founders, Harry Ferguson’s vision was not to simply sell tractors. His ‘plan’ was to lift people out of poverty,” explains Campbell Scott.
engineering and manufacturing tools and techniques,
In 1946 Harry Ferguson addressed the Food and
they still retain our dependable, straightforward operation,
Agriculture Organisation, the first specialist arm of the
reliability and cost effective performance,” he says.
United Nations. He said: ‘No matter what happens in
More than 90% of the parts and components in the Global
world politics, the fight against starvation goes on. World
Series are entirely new. Combined laboratory and field testing
population outstrips food production. Soil erosion reduces
has reached 36,000 hours and, reflecting the global nature
the number of cultivated acres. What can we do to get
of the new machines, prototypes have been tested in brutal
more food at a price the poorest can afford… without
conditions from Arizona in the USA to Lusaka in Zambia.
robbing the farmer of his livelihood?’
Innovations from a small island
21
“Now more than half a century later, Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson also continues to be at the forefront of
continues to innovate to deliver new equipment that helps
electronic developments with its AGCOMMAND telemetry
address these issues. The new Global Series is the first,
system now at work on every continent. This system allows
and only, tractor of its type that has been designed and
wireless transfer of a huge amount of operating data from
engineered to provide smaller farmers – across the whole
machines to be transferred, via the mobile phone signal, to
world – with the very latest design and innovation at an
be viewed on an individual’s secure webpage.
affordable price,” adds Campbell Scott. During this period Massey Ferguson has continued to invest in other innovations for larger, more progressive and mainstream farms. To meet the requirements of the increasingly stringent exhaust emission regulations engineers have been refining the SCR system, to ensure it not only cuts noxious gases, but does so without compromising performance of fuel efficiency. “Indeed, in many cases the latest engines consume less fuel than the ones they replace,” adds Campbell Scott. Massey Ferguson is also acknowledged as a leader in transmission design and manufacturing. Over the years it has developed the novel Dynashift semi-powershift system to provide versions offering either four or six steps in each
Users are employing the system to monitor operations in
gear, as well as AutoDrive for automatic shifting in field and
real time, transfer machine settings and variable rate plans
road modes.
as well as for complex fleet management. Designed to be
The transmission’s unique, Power Control lever illustrates how sometimes innovation is simply a matter of applying straightforward systems that ease the workload on the operator, with a simple lever that can be used to change
easy to use, as well as being able to be viewed on a mobile devices, the telemetry system is set to play an increasingly important role in farm and machinery management as well as remote diagnostics by dealers.
Dynashift steps, select neutral and change directions. Or
“Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Massey
they can provide sophisticated control in the shape of
Ferguson,” says Campbell Scott. “We are a truly global
the Dyna-VT constantly variable transmission, which is
manufacturer and we ensure that our developments, such
linked electronically to the engine management to provide
as those in telemetry and the new Global tractor, produce
optimum economy and performance.
benefits for all our customers – wherever they farm.”
22
Innovations from a small island
BBSRC: bioscience for life The UK is a world-leader in bioscience research, including vital, underpinning agricultural research. BBSRC plays a unique and central role in maintaining this position.
E
ach year, BBSRC invests around £90M in worldclass agricultural research and training, from crop science (including energy crops) to farmed
animal health and welfare (including aquaculture), as well as research relating to agricultural systems and the environment. These investments aim to further scientific knowledge, promote economic growth, wealth and job creation, and improve quality of life in the UK and beyond.
Helping to address global challenges Demand for food is rising, driven by factors such as population growth, increasing affluence and changing diets. At the same time, there is increasing competition for land and fresh water, which puts added pressure on production, while climate change will reduce the reliability of food supply, for example through altered weather patterns and increased pressure from pests and diseases. In addition to food production, there is increasing scope for
the multi-funder, multi-disciplinary Global Food Security
agriculture to be a major source of sustainable feedstocks for
research programme, which draws together partners
bioenergy and high-value chemicals in the wider bioeconomy.
from across Research Councils UK, the Technology
Avoiding direct competition with food, by better utilising
Strategy Board, government departments and devolved
agricultural waste and production from marginal land, is a key
administrations for greater coordination of funders around
challenge. In future agriculture must produce more from the
shared strategic objectives. The programme provides
same or less land, using less water, energy and other inputs
leadership, enhances synergy, and acts as a focus for
whilst reducing waste and adverse environmental impacts,
attracting greater private and third sector investment.
including greenhouse gas emissions.
As recognised in the UK Strategy for Agricultural
Tackling these different, but related, challenges requires
Technologies, there is a need to accelerate the translation
multidisciplinary research. BBSRC is applying the latest
of research into practice. We will tackle this by working
bioscience and modelling at a range of scales, up to
closely with multiple partners to implement the strategy.
agricultural landscapes. We support research to increase
For example, working with the Technology Strategy Board
the efficiency and sustainability of crop and animal
to establish the Agri-technology Catalyst and Centres for
production, reduce waste in the food chain, and ensure
Agricultural Innovation, which will serve to align academic
safe and nutritious diets. This includes minimising negative
research more effectively with industry needs, and increase
environmental impacts and preserving biodiversity and other
translational skills.
ecosystem services.
Communicating with industry – the ultimate users of this
To deliver our goals we are boosting national capability in
research – is vital to help BBSRC achieve these goals.
research underpinning food security and the bioeconomy
That is why we are delighted to sponsor this year’s IFAJ
through support for major infrastructure and facilities,
Congress, building on the relationships that we have with
and by ensuring that the UK skills base has appropriate
agricultural journalists across the arable, horticulture and
critical mass and specialist research expertise. The BBSRC
livestock sectors.
strategically-funded institutes (see www.bbsrc.ac.uk/
Food security is a complex issue that encompasses
Come and visit us on our stand during the main Congress in Aberdeen - we look forward to meeting you.
international trade, aid, transport, economics and social
Or find out more at www.bbsrc.ac.uk
institutes) are central to providing this national capability.
science. BBSRC will continue to play a leading role in
Innovations from a small island
23
Food from a small island
image: AHDB
Britain’s island status has played a fundamental role in shaping its people, industry and countryside, writes international supply chain expert Cedric Porter.
B
ritain may only be 35 kilometres from the French coast, but its uniqueness has been forged by centuries of both isolation and links with the rest of
the world and nothing typifies that more perfectly than its relationship with food.
A battle for self-sufficiency By the first part of the 20th century as much as 70 per cent of the food eaten in the UK was imported. The dangers of this reliance on other countries became apparent in the Second World War when supplies from across the Atlantic
Belying a perception of a fondness for unimaginative
were interrupted and there was an emphasis on producing
food, every evening the British sit down to a multi-national
as much food at home as possible. This led to investment
diet of Chinese, Indian, Thai, Italian, Spanish, French,
during and beyond the war in plant and animal breeding as
Scandinavian, Mexican and Middle Eastern dishes while still
well crop protection and animal health products. It led to
making way for traditional favourites such as fish & chips
around 80 per cent self-sufficiency in the 1980s, but since
and roasts. The British are keen to try new dishes, but they
then a growing UK population, greater taste for exotic food,
are also keen for the rest of the world to try theirs.
pressure on land and increasing costs of production has
Invading Romans, Vikings and Normans bought their own foods with them but also allowed for the trade in British products back across the Channel and North Sea. As the British joined European countries in extending their empires, they adopted new foods, fibres and vices with explorer Sir Walter Raleigh famous for bringing both the potato and tobacco back from his travels.
reduced that self-sufficiency to just 60 per cent. This has become such an issue that the National Farmers Union recently declared the 7th August as the ‘Day British Food Ran Out’ as the UK only produces enough food to feed itself for 249 days of the year. But while the UK is one the world’s most significant food import markets, it is still a major exporter of food, drink and other agricultural products. Figures from food processing
The industrial and agricultural revolutions of the 18th and
organisation the Food and Drink Federation show that during
19th Centuries not only changed the way people worked,
2013 UK food exports were up 3.7 per cent to £19.4 billion.
they also changed Britain’s relationship with the way it
Whisky was the largest single product in that trade accounting
traded food and other agricultural goods. Its mills and
for £4.4 billion. Exports of non-alcoholic drinks were up 5 per
factories produced engines, clothes, bridges and ceramics
cent to £12.8 billion.
whose export allowed for the back-loading imports of cotton, grain, meat and sugar. This provided an increasingly
Grain opportunities
prosperous population with cheap food and luxuries, but it
It is clear that the rest of the world is getting a taste for
also led to the darker horrors of slavery, Imperial exploitation
some iconic British products. For example, in the past it
and rural British poverty.
was just Brits who cracked open the Hobnob biscuits to
24
Innovations from a small island
enjoy with their afternoon or morning cuppa tea. Now from
opportunities and how they fit in with domestic needs, its
Sydney to Saudi British biscuits are the treat of choice.
chairman peter Kendall told the IFAJ Congress: image: AHDB
“There have been volumes written about the global challenge of feeding 9 billion. But here in the UK we are also seeing a rapid growth in population with an estimated 4.5 million more mouths to feed by 2020. Farmers in the UK are ambitious to make the most of both these great opportunities by producing significantly more food sustainably. With the application of innovation and technology there is significant potential to achieve this. In strawberries for instance, UK production over the last 20 years has more than doubled through innovative ways to improve yields.
Taking the message of British food far and wide
“There is also great potential to grow our specialist and commodity exports, and AHDB has opened more than 60 non-EU markets up to UK beef and lamb exports since January 2010. Exports of pig meat to China are growing rapidly and now account for nearly 20% of UK pork production and we are negotiating to extend access to products such as pork pies and trotters. A strong export market helps underpin UK farmgate prices.”
In recent history, the UK would export more than three million tonnes of grain a year to markets as diverse as the USA, Nigeria and Scandinavia, but poor harvests in 2012 and 2013 knocked that trade. However, there is confidence that a bumper harvest this year will allow exports of the biscuit and bread milling wheat so favoured by North African and Southern European buyers in particular. Over the last 15 years a system of quality assurance has been developed that gives importers the confidence that the grain they are buying is safe and of high quality. “In 2014/15 the UK should return as a net wheat exporter after two years where we have imported more than we shipped abroad. To be able to access the best markets it is vital that UK wheat quality is good this season – France has
As the world population grows there should be more
significant quality issues and we are looking to recapture
opportunities for British farmers, but they will need to
lost markets. Barley exports will be lower than in 2013/14
ensure they are farming competitively and delivering top
due to a reduced crop size whilst oilseed rape and human
quality or provenance if they are to win new business. But
consumption beans will be part of the export picture,”
what is certain is that the UK’s trading heritage will put it
commented David Sheppard, managing director of grain
in a good position to consolidate its reputation as global
company Gleadell.
farming player.
British livestock products are also gaining a reputation across the world for their taste and quality. In 2013 salmon topped
image: AHDB
Salmon to China the export growth chart with a massive 38 per cent increase in shipments to £465 million posted during the year. Sales to China almost doubled. Meanwhile, there has been an 18 per cent increase in dairy exports with British cheese favourites such as Cheddar and Stilton leading the way. Processed food exports are supported by the Food and Drinks Federation and its Food and Drinks Export Association. But export promotion of specific sectors is supported by the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board, which is paid for by a system of farmer levies and has six key sectors: dairy, cereals, potatoes, horticulture, pigmeat, beef and lamb. Commenting on the UK’s export
Innovations from a small island
25
Ancestry and heritage
image: loch ness
From clans, to kilts, to castles Scotland boasts a uniquely recognisable heritage which captures the imagination of visitors from all over the world.
F
ew aspects of Scotland’s history fascinate as much
million people worldwide thought to have Scottish ancestry
as the clan system. From ancient origins in the Celtic,
the prospect of tracing clan roots is a huge draw for many
Norse or Norman-French traditions, by the 13th
visitors with an estimated 213,000 trips made every year to
century, the clans had grown firm roots in the Highlands
of Scotland.
take part in ancestral research. Part and parcel with clans is one of Scotland’s most iconic
While the term ‘clan’ means family or children in Gaelic,
symbols – tartan. This patterned woven cloth is internationally
not everyone in the same clan was actually related to each
recognised as synonymous with Scottish culture.
other. The clans lived off the land, with cattle being their main source of wealth and, along with border disputes, the prime cause of inter-clan unrest. The most important clan chiefs at this time were part-kings, part-protectorates and part-judges and they held real power over their controlled lands. The system remained largely intact until the time of the bloody Battle of Culloden in 1746, where the Jacobite rebellion was crushed by the royal troops of King George II.
Tartan originated in the Highlands where clanspeople used local plants, mosses and berries to dye wool before spinning and weaving it into tartan. The patterns consist of interwoven vertical and horizontal lines, known as a sett. No-one knows exactly when tartan first came into use but the first known mention of tartan in Scotland dates back to 1538. The idea of clan and family tartans is thought to be a relatively new invention, following the standardisation of
By this point, improved trade and communication links
tartans worn by the Highland regiments of the 18th century,
between northern and southern clans were already leading
and during the Victorian period, when all things Scottish
to the dilution of the clan system and the infamous Highland
were considered fashionable. Prior to this, it is believed that
Clearances effectively signalled the end as thousands of
clansmen were known to wear a variety of different setts
Scottish land workers sought the promise of a better life on
and the weave of cloth tended to be dictated by the custom
distant shores.
of a particular area, rather than by clan or family affiliation.
Today, many clans can be traced back to a specific part of
The piece of clothing most commonly associated with
Scotland, for example the MacLeods of Skye, the MacNeils
tartan is, of course, the iconic Scottish kilt. Originating in the
of Barra or the MacNabs of St Fillan on Loch Earn. With 50
Highlands as an untailored, 5 metre-long piece of cloth that
26
Innovations from a small island
image: forth road bridge
image: eilean donan
was belted at the waist with the remaining material draped
Further north in Aberdeen city and shire modern visitors
over the shoulder and pinned. Over time the design evolved
will find Scotland’s only designated Castle Trail boasting
to become more practical and the pleated, skirt-like garment
17 highlights to visit, including beautiful cliff-top fortress
that we know today was created in the mid-18th century.
Dunnottar Castle, one of the finest examples of Scottish
Modern wearers of tartan and kilts can select from thousands of designs and colours, and although some
baronial architecture Craigievar, and the striking curtain wall at Balvenie.
choose to search for a tartan that matches their family
One of the most romantic castles in the Highlands, Cawdor,
name there are no strict rules on choosing one. Visitors to
is forever connected with Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth.
Scotland have plenty of opportunity to learn more about
Although this 14th century tower house was constructed
tartan, from a dedicated Clan Tartan Centre in Leith,
long after the historical events that inspired the play took
Edinburgh where you can search a database of 50,000
place, it has always been the ancestral home of the Thanes
names, to the Tartan Weaving Mill on the Royal Mile near
of Cawdor.
Edinburgh Castle where visitors can learn more about the cloth, to a huge range of shops dedicated to helping customers select a tartan and kilt.
Scotland is not just renowned for its unique clan history and distinct national dress, woven into its very landscape are instantly recognisable symbols of Scottish heritage in the shape of its many iconic castles and ruins.
Many of Scotland’s castles still belong to the clans. Eilean Donan Castle, by the picturesque village of Dornie on the main route to Skye, is the base of Clan McRae. Ruined in a Jacobite rising, it has now been restored and is one of the most admired castles in Scotland. Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye has been the home of the chiefs of Clan MacLeod for 800 years and is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. Castles, kilts and clans offer just a snapshot of
Perhaps best known is Edinburgh Castle, overlooking
Scotland’s unique cultural heritage which millions
Scotland’s capital from an extinct volcano. The famous
of visitors are drawn to uncover year after year.
landmark has a complex building history with St Margaret’s
Find out more at www.visitscotland.com
Chapel, dating from the 12th Century, the Great Hall erected by James IV around 1510, the Half Moon Battery
All Photos copyright VisitScotland/ScottishViewpoint
by the Regent Morton in the late 16th century; and the Scottish National War Memorial after the First World War. Visitors to the castle can see the Honours (crown jewels) of Scotland and admire some of the oldest Renaissance decorations in Britain. The popularity of Edinburgh Castle among visitors is undeniable and it is Scotland’s number one paid-for tourist attraction. One of Scotland’s most historically significant sites is the iconic Stirling Castle. Once a favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens who held grand celebrations at the castle, visitors can step back in time in this iconic setting and explore the palace vaults, the Great Hall, Chapel Royal and Regimental Museum.
Innovations from a small island
27
The History of the Kilt
Scottish kilts are known as “The National Dress of Scotland” and are a highly recognised form of dress throughout the world. Kilts have deep cultural and historical roots in Scotland and are a sacred symbol of patriotism and honor for a true Scotsman.
S
cottish kilts originate back to the 16th century,
Gordon Highlanders became the first military regiment
when they were traditionally worn as full length
to begin using the knife pleat (1853), and by the 1900s,
garments by Gaelic-speaking male Highlanders
it was accepted in civilian kilt designs. As fashions
of northern Scotland. The wearing of Scottish kilts was
transformed, designs of the tailored kilt progressed to
common during the 1720s, when the British military used
linings, waistbands, buckles and straps. Generally, modern-
them as their formal uniforms. The knee-length kilt, similar
day Scottish kilts have 29 pleats and are made using
to the modern kilt of today, did not develop until the late
approximately 8 yards of tartan fabric.
17th or early 18th century.
During the 19th century, Scottish kilts were a form of
Early Scottish kilts were made using self-coloured
ceremonial dress and worn only for special occasions and
garments, which were white or dull brown, green or black
primarily to formal events, such as weddings, sporting
as opposed to the multicolored plaids or tartan designs recognized today. As dyeing and weaving techniques improved during the late 1800s, tartan patterns were developed, and these plaid designs became native to Scotland using tartan cloth. The phillabeg kilt was prevalent during the first half of the 17th century throughout central Scotland and the Highlands. Generally, when a buyer ordered a kilt, they requested a specific tartan, of which today, there are more than 3,500. When making a kilt, the tartan’s pattern must
events, Highland games and holiday celebrations. However, the Scottish kilt is increasingly being recognised as an acceptable form of dress at informal parties and casual wear and returning to its cultural roots. The Scottish kilt has become a required uniform for Scotland’s Tartan Army football team and encouraged for the team’s fans.
Traditional and modern Scottish dress
remain unbroken throughout the garment, therefore, it takes
Based in the Granite City of Aberdeen, Georgian Dress
approximately 20 to 25 hours since nearly all the work is still
Hire, 62 Leadside Road, Aberdeen AB25 1TW Telephone:
done by hand.
01224 633537 offer a full kilt making and dress hire
Beginning in the 1790s, the phillabeg style of kilt was replaced by the tailored kilt, becoming the modern
service with an extensive choice of hand-made kilts, tartans and accessories.
Scottish kilt of today. The difference between the two is
They have been established in Aberdeen since 1984 and the
that the pleats of the kilt are sewn down, as opposed to
expert in-house team and specialist kilt makers will provide a
being gathered, folded and belted. Initially the tailored
first class service from measuring through to the final fitting.
kilt was worn by the military during the 1790s when
Tartans come in various weights and there are a choice of
they were box-pleated, but there was no tapering. The
jackets including the Prince Charlie, Argyll and Crail.
28
Innovations from a small island
Why innovation matters to Perkins as a sponsor of IFAJ 2014 Adrian Talbot, Marketing Centre of Excellence Manager, Perkins Engines Company Limited
I
nnovation and a desire to continually redefine our goals, to ensure we set the highest standards and deliver on our customer commitments, are at the very core of the
Perkins business. Indeed, it’s how we started in 1932, when entrepreneur Frank Perkins and engineer Charles Chapman had the idea to transform the diesel engine from the slow revving workhorse it had become, into a high speed engine capable of powering a host of equipment, from agricultural machines to lifting applications. Their desire to innovate and pioneer a new idea helped transform our industry, and today, all of us working within and supporting the agricultural sector, whether we’re manufacturing a diesel engine, producing a machine or implementing a new farming technique, continue to uphold that innovative approach and drive greater efficiencies and productivity. In our testing labs, tilt tables enable us to simulate the demands placed on our engines, each and every second, as they provide reliable power to machinery to plough, cut and harvest. This innovative approach enables us to tailor engines precisely to meet our customers’ requirements, which is why our engine solutions are trusted by leading agricultural equipment manufacturers around the world. While innovative, the concept is a simple one: side-byside working in a purpose-built facility that encourages swift and effective resolution of many of the challenges faced by agricultural equipment manufacturers when trying to integrate engines into their machines. Not only are participating manufacturers finding the optimal solution to powering their next generation machines, but development times have been cut by up to six months on average. Perkins reputation for reliability, dependability and low cost of ownership, has over the years, ensured that the Perkins brand and agriculture remain inextricably linked. The industry has made a major contribution to Perkins as a business and hopefully we have reciprocated. Together with the equipment manufacturers we work with, from tractor to crop sprayer producers, and grape harvesters to forestry equipment, we have continued to explore and develop new solutions which have, and continue, to deliver real benefits for agricultural end users around the world.
More recent innovations have ensured farm machinery benefits the environment, with our full range of engines meeting the respective emission standards around the world, while improving fuel consumption and overall performance.
The UK continues to uphold its long tradition of agricultural innovation with some of the best and brightest talent within our shores, capable of delivering solutions that we need to leverage and export for the benefit of agriculture across the globe. Indeed, as a power solutions provider with its headquarters and two manufacturing plants in the UK, a growing number of manufacturers from emerging markets like Brazil, China and India are using Perkins engines in their machines because it is a brand they and their customers trust. This trust is borne from Perkins’ agricultural heritage, a reputation for dependable power and from being the engine of choice for many of the world’s leading agricultural equipment brands. We are very proud that our continued innovation over the last 82 years, delivering engines from the iconic P6 to the 6.354 and to our latest EU Stage IV / U.S. EPA Tier 4 Final range, has enabled Perkins and its customers to make a significant contribution to the world’s agricultural community. For more information on Perkins’ innovation, technology and contribution to the agricultural market visit www.perkins.com
Innovations from a small island
29
Agriculture
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Scotland’s agricultural research: an emphasis on innovation Professor Geoff Simm & Professor John Oldham, SRUC, Edinburgh
S
cotland has a deserved reputation for innovation
of London the two Veterinary Schools in Scotland are the
in many spheres. It wasn’t always the case in
next oldest in the United Kingdom. From them grew the
agriculture. Up to the start of the eighteenth century
tremendous capacity for innovation in the control and
farming practice in Scotland was viewed as backward
management of animal disease that is a feature of today’s
compared with practices elsewhere at the times. But since
research environment.
then there has been a gradual crescendo of achievement in various branches of agricultural and rural research. Today, papers published from agricultural research in Scotland are cited more often than agricultural research papers from any other country in the world.
Between 1887 and 1904 three Colleges of Agriculture (in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh) were established. Each was linked to its sister University and built on the model of the Land-Grant Universities in the United States – that is with a three-fold purpose of educating students, undertaking
The emphasis, though, isn’t only on doing ‘clever science’.
research and providing extension, or advisory, services to
There is also enthusiasm and effort to link science to the
farmers and associated industries. Over time those colleges
needs and interests of the agricultural, rural and broader
have merged into what is now called ‘Scotland’s Rural
economies. ‘Science for practice’ and ‘science into
College (SRUC)’. The threefold purpose remains, with the
practice’ are real statements of intent and achievement in
‘extension’ arm (‘SAC Consulting’) operating across the
Scotland. Research infrastructure has been developed, and
whole of Scotland, into England and internationally with
is supported today, to facilitate the links amongst industry,
an annual turnover of more than £23m. It is a model that
policy and technical capability that enable innovation.
is unique in Europe and respected widely as an effective
The late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the laying
structure for innovation.
of the foundations of today’s success. Inspired individuals
Throughout the UK the early part of the twentieth century
with great ideas had a marked effect on farming practice.
and the immediate post-war period saw the establishment
James Hutton (1726-1797), the ‘father of geological
of a large number of agricultural and horticultural research
science’, but also a great agricultural innovator, established
organisations or institutes. In Scotland The Rowett
the platform from which much soil and environmental
Research Institute (now the Rowett Institute of Nutrition
science grew. Andrew Meikle (1719-1811) invented the
and Health in the University of Aberdeen) was founded
threshing machine and Patrick Bell (1799-1869) the
in 1913. Its first Director was the Nobel laureate Sir John
reaping machine. In 1823 the Royal (Dick) School of
Boyd-Orr. The Moredun Research Institute followed in
Veterinary Studies was founded in Edinburgh, and in 1862
1920 – it was initially set up by Scottish farmers to deal with
the Veterinary School at the University of Glasgow was
specific disease challenges for the sheep industry. In 1919
opened. After the Royal Veterinary College of the University
a Unit of Genetics had been established in the University
32
Innovations from a small island
of Edinburgh. With various developments it was part of the
prevention and control is provided through ‘EPIC’
evolution of the Animal Breeding Research Organisation
(a consortium of research players involved in
(ABRO) that was created in 1947 and was a significant
epidemiological research and modelling).
landmark in the continuing tradition of world-leading research in genetics that remains a major characteristic of Scottish agricultural research today. ABRO, and the Poultry Research Institute (also established in 1947) combined to form the Roslin Research Institute in 1993. The Roslin Institute, that is especially famous for the work that led to the creation of Dolly the sheep, is now part of the University of Edinburgh.
The genetic control of disease, and options to use genetic selection to reduce disease, also figures large in current research. This builds on a long tradition of genetics research and covers both crops and animals. Genome and genomic analysis now provide opportunities for genetic selection that were previously not available. In livestock EGENES (Edinburgh Genetic Services) is located in the same building as the SRUC and Roslin institute genetics
The James Hutton Research institute (‘The Hutton’) was
research teams. EGENES delivers genetic evaluations for
formally established in 2011 out of the merger of the
the UK dairy industry and significant parts of the sheep
Macaulay Land Use Research Institute (with origins going
and beef industries. The recent introduction of genomic
back to 1930) and the Scottish Crop Research Institute
evaluations for dairy cattle benefitted from the close
(whose various origins began in 1951). The Hutton focusses
proximity of researchers with our industry-focussed team;
on land, crop, water and environmental research.
this has proved to be an excellent structure for innovation.
These, then, are the main research players in agricultural
The recent descriptions of the potato and barley genomes
research in Scotland: the two veterinary schools (Edinburgh
is accelerating progress towards the development of new
and Glasgow), the Hutton, Moredun, Roslin and Rowett
varieties with traits that otherwise would be difficult to select.
research institutes, and SRUC. The veterinary schools, as
In potatoes selection for resistance to late blight is a current
part of the University system, receive funding for research from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) based on their assessed research performance (now called the Research Excellence Framework). The Scottish Government, through its Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services
target that will have great value to the industry. In barley (the raw material for the whisky industry that is worth approximately £4bn per year) selection for improved nutrient uptake is under way and methods have been found to help to protect the whisky industry through novel provenance methodologies.
Division (RESAS) funds strategic programmes of research
The changing climate is a concern for us all. Actions range
largely through its main research providers, the Hutton,
from exploring options for genetic selection to reduce
Moredun and Rowett institutes and SRUC. This amounts
methane production in ruminants to using new genetic
to more than £50m annually. The Roslin institute is the only
techniques to evolve blackcurrant varieties that are resilient
institute in Scotland that is part of the chain of institutes
to a more volatile range of growing conditions in winter.
that are core-funded by the Biological and Biotechnological Research Council (BBSRC) of the UK. As such it receives a core research grant from the BBSRC. All of the research institutions compete for other funds for research from UK Research Councils, Scottish and UK Government departments, The EU, industry, international research funders and charities. Collaboration features significantly in all of the research effort. Amongst the main research players there are collaborations with almost every agriculturally research-active nation on the globe. Funding from the Scottish Government and SFC amounts to about half of the total that is spent on agricultural research in Scotland.
Innovation in agriculture is only part of the whole food chain approach that is needed to give us all a more sustainable and healthy environment and diet. Fundamental research in human nutrition has helped to deliver the ‘Simply Fuller longer’ range of foods now on Marks & Spencer shelves. The wider implications of different (and sometimes competing) options for land use are being studied to guide policy development for sustainable uses of the land. We are increasingly taking a holistic approach to agricultural research, blending the social and natural sciences with an ‘ecosystem services’ context to the whole effort. Scotland has a long and proud tradition of international
A current focus in animal disease research is on the
collaboration in agricultural research and education. These
development of novel vaccines for the control of parasitic
international collaborations are of increasing importance,
diseases in livestock. This is supported by the largest ever
given the global grand challenges of improving food and
grant (£9m) awarded in the field of animal health. A vaccine
environmental security.
cocktail to control gastro-intestinal parasites has been patented and there is further development under way in the pharmaceutical industry. Recent animal health research has also provided the basis for industry-based disease surveillance schemes and strategic planning for disease
Agricultural research in Scotland is technically vibrant and socially and environmentally conscious. Its long history is certainly not complete. Innovations from a small island
33
Agri-Tech rises to farming’s challenges Graeme Cummings, Digital Engagement Policy Adviser at the Agri-Tech strategy explains why farm science is such a priority These are challenging
partnership with Government, it seeks to put the UK at the
but exciting times for the
forefront of the global race to sustainable intensification.
agricultural sector, as it works
The Strategy’s vision is for the UK to become a world leader
to tackle complex issues such
in agricultural technology, innovation and sustainability.
as adapting to the effects of
To do this, the UK must exploit opportunities to develop
climate change and feeding
and adopt new and existing technologies, products and
a growing global population
services; the UK must increase productivity, contribute to
with dwindling resources.
global food security and facilitate international development.
The degree of change that is required within food and agriculture systems and the pace with which that change needs to be delivered requires us to adopt new ways of doing things. But while the UK has a long history of global influence in agriculture, the infrastructure to support industry
That is why the strategy will see Government invest £160 million – to be matched by industry in accelerating innovation by UK businesses throughout the agri food supply chain, and in driving UK growth through emerging global markets.
Agricultural technologies
in applying science and technology to help modern farming
and food production has declined over the past thirty years. The UK Agri Tech Strategy was developed with these
Agricultural technol
challenges firmly in mind. Launched in July 2013 and
£70 million of this investment will be directed at improving
overseen by an industry led Leadership Council working in
the translation of research into practice through the
Agriculture employs 450,000 people.
Agriculture employs 450,000 people.
Agricultural technologies
Agriculture contributes £9 billion to the UK economy and underpins the UK’s £26 billion food and drink manufacturing sector.
Agriculture contribu economy and und food and drink m
ltural technologies
Agriculture employs 450,000 people.
s 450,000 people.
A pest management system Agriculture contributes £9 billion to the UK The growing global agricultural technologies developed by British andeconomy Kenyan and underpins the UK’s £26 billion sector is worth $400 billion, offering export scientists has increasedfood yield and in drink manufacturing sector. opportunities in emerging markets. parts of Kenya by up to 100%.
#indstrategy
Agriculture contributes £9 billion to the UK economy and underpins the UK’s £26 billion food and drink manufacturing sector.
A management system 34pestInnovations from a small island The growing global agricultural technologies developed by British and Kenyan sector is worth $400 billion, offering export scientists has increased yield in opportunities in emerging markets. parts of Kenya by up to 100%.
A pest management system developed by British and Kenyan scientists has increased yield in parts of Kenya by up to 100%.
The growing global sector is worth $40 opportunities in em
Agri Tech Catalyst. The Catalyst will help bridge the gap
sustainable, the centre will become a repository for, and
between the lab and the marketplace by providing proof of
a single point of access to, relevant data sets and world
concept funding or by exploring the commercial potential
class analysis. The integration of these datasets with
of a scientific idea. The Catalyst supports collaborative
data from a wide variety of other sources (for example:
partnerships between academics and industry, encouraging
satellite imaging, environmental monitoring, meteorology
both large businesses and SMEs to participate; the
and soil geochemistry) will drive innovation and improve
Department for International Development is also contributing
sustainability throughout the agri-tech sector.
£10 million to the Catalyst to support the transfer of technology and new products to developing countries.
All of this is important in ensuring the future of a vibrant UK agricultural sector which plays a part in our resurgent
The first series of Catalyst awards were announced in
economy. Agricultural science and technology is rapidly
March, with £4 million invested in projects from across the
becoming one of the world’s fastest growing and exciting
UK in the areas of crops, livestock and aquaculture. Some
markets. The agri food sector is worth £97 billion and,
projects will investigate new farming techniques, such
with the world’s population predicted to rise from seven to
as the cultivation of seaweed, where booming consumer
nine billion by 2050, its importance will continue to grow.
demand far outstrips wild supply. Others will focus on
Through the Agri Tech Strategy, we hope to harness our
solving problems directly affecting farmers including
potential to be a global leader in agri tech, and see the UK
tackling mastitis, a disease which currently costs the dairy
become recognised as a hub for innovation, investment and
industry over £200 million a year.
commercialisation.
A further £90 million will be invested over five years in establishing a number of Centres for Agricultural Innovation. The first of these, the Centre for Agri Informatics and
For more information on the Agri Tech Strategy, please visit our:
Sustainability Metrics, opened for applications from
Website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/
interested consortia in April. In this age of big data, the
uk-agricultural-technologies-strategy
ability to access and exploit information is key to economic
Blog: www.agritech.blog.gov.uk
success. With an aim to define how we can better use
Twitter: www.twitter.com/AgriTechGov
data to make agriculture more efficient and environmentally
Innovations from a small island
35
Doric: the dialect of north east Scotland The north east of Scotland has its own dialect - The Doric. This feature looks at its history - and how it is used today.
Doric’s History
the country and peasantry, while English, now the formal
According the Scots Language Centre, “after the Union of 1707 - which joined England and Scotland into a single state of Great Britain – the Scots language was reclassified. Until the 18th century it was commonly taken for granted that Scots
language of Britain, became associated with Attic, the ancient Greek language of the city states. When Ramsay described Scots as Doric he meant that it was associated with the countryside, peasantry and working class: it was
was a language. Now, if Scotland was no longer a kingdom
therefore another way of saying rural or rustic language.
but a ‘province’ of the UK, then Scots was downgraded to a
Ramsay used the term with affection, and it was often
‘provincial dialect’. Local dialects and regional names began to
understood to mean simple, ‘pure’ and plain-speaking.”
emerge. It was a process of fragmentation.” “Slowly people forgot that Scots had had a single, national
Doric today
identity. Perhaps the most outstanding alternative name to
Doric is actively spoken in the region by all ages, it is poetic,
emerge was ‘Doric’ first applied by the poet Allan Ramsay
descriptive and very well loved by the people of the region.
(1686-1758) in his writing in 1721.”
Three of the organisers have highlighted what the dialect
“Scots was now compared with the ‘Doric’ speech of
means to them - and outline their favourite words and
ancient Greece, spoken in Doria, and associated with
phrases for you.
Bob Dow, Organiser of the Finzean and Glenlivet tours (Day job: Media for Scottish Police)
Jane Craigie, Chairman, British Guild of Agricultural Journalists (Day job: Runs her own marketing & PR agency)
“I learned the Doric growing
“My parents and grandparents
up on the farm at Auchnagatt
come from the north east of
in the heart of the north-east,
Scotland, so, despite being
where it was your first and
brought up overseas (India,
second language. Later in
Cyprus and Turkey), I was
life, as a national newspaper journalist I found it useful working from Aberdeen on stories in rural areas as it often helped put my subjects at ease.
immersed in Doric from an early age. On our return from our travels, aged 11, I had assumed that the words and phrases we used were just English. But no-one understood what a “quine” (girl) or “loon”
It was also handy while working as communications
(boy) were, nor (thankfully) what “ya feil” (you fool) meant. My
manager at the ANM Group at Thainstone in Aberdeenshire,
husband -Mike - and I moved to the north east 10 years ago.
home of Europe’s largest livestock centre and the beating
Mike had never heard the dialect before, what’s more he
heart of the Doric.
could barely understand the local accent! Now that he has
I still use it every day with my family, from my 90-year-old
tuned in his ear and we are immersed in this lovely part of
mother to my 13-year-old daughter. I love it and can’t
Scotland, Doric has become a daily part of our lives and our
imagine life without it.”
conversation - and much richer it is as a result.”
Favourite expression: “I hiv an affa yokey oxter.”
Favourite expressions: “Nae muckle wunner”
(my armpit is very itchy)
(not much wonder) and “clarty dub” - (sticky mud)
36
Innovations from a small island
Some useful Doric From Emma Penny
Daily words “Aye aye, fit like?” “Hello, how are you?” “Nae bad, fit like yersel?” “Not bad, how are you?” “Tyaavin awa” “Struggling away” “Gyad sakes” “Yuk!” “Come away in and hae a news” “Come in and have a chat”
common words
Flvy cup Afternoon tea
Mannie, wifie, loonie, quinie Man, woman, boy, girl
Dubby/dubs Mud
Fairm Farm Wabbit Tired Fair wabbit Very tired Ill trickit Naughty
“It goings roon yer heirt like a hairy worm” It’s quite tasty (when talking about something like soup!)
Heid bummer The person in charge! useful sayings “There’s aye waater faar i stirkie droons” There’s always water where the cattle drown (ie, no smoke without fire)
“He’s aye like the coo’s tail” He’s always last “Fit’s for ye winna ging by ye” If it’s meant to be, it will happen
Redding up Tidying up
Emma Penny, Chairman 5 September session, tour lead Field Crops & Potato, (Day job: Editor of Farmers Guardian)
Favourite expressions: “There are some words which I use which - to me - I think of more as just English and am sometimes a bit surprised when others don’t understand. I had a real task trying to explain that when I said my mother was swaak, she was agile, or that something shoogly was
“Being born and brought up
wobbly, or that a skinnymalink was a thin person. And try
on a farm in Buchan - the
telling HR that you were off work because you were feeling
‘heartland’ of Doric - it is a
peelie wally (sickly)!”
dialect I’ve been surrounded by for a very long time. I don’t tend to have a strong accent, and moving south to London for my first journalism job meant I had to speak more slowly and clearly - but everyone in the office could (and can still) tell when I am on the phone to someone from Aberdeenshire! “There are some fantastic words and sayings in Doric which just aren’t as descriptive or accurate in English - it’s a really colourful dialect. It is much easier to listen to than to read (though you might not agree with me if you heard two farmers in full flow) and I have to really concentrate when I read the regular column written in Doric in the local
Daily Twitter Competition Try your Doric There is a prize per day for the best Doric quote or word tweeted by a delegate via the hashtag #IFAJ2014
Aberdeen Press and Journal.”
Innovations from a small island
37
When something clicked All the photographs for the congress tours have been provided for free by local photographer Beverley Brown. Here she explains why she wanted to be involved in the Congress
My reasons for getting
me with its depth and it turned out to be my first Scottish
involved with the IFAJ are very
Farmer front cover and was used by the newspaper to
personal. I spent the last three
promote its awards.
years travelling alongside Ken Fletcher of the Scottish Farmer magazine and at one of my very first shows I met Joe Watson from the Press & Journal, to whom I took an instant liking for his straighttalking ways Ken, Joe, and I were often the only people in the press offices at the likes of Appin, and Arisaig agricultural shows and I remember sitting with Joe alone in the tiny back office at Oban Cattle Market. He was flicking though images taken at various IFAJ Congresses and I was totally enthralled by them. We talked about me investing in a professional camera and
With encouragement and advice from Joe and his ‘auld pal’ Ken I was soon taking photos for a living. Photos that capture the very heart of the beautiful countryside in this part of Scotland such as the Queen’s prize winning Highland bull or the amazing 18-pointed stags at Ballcorach Farm on the Crown Estate at Glenlivet. I was the first to put my hands up when I heard photos were needed for the Congress. I’ve had an amazing time photographing the IFAJ hosts and their farms; capturing their passion and enthusiasm as they produce some of the world’s finest food amidst some of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes.
he asked me where I wanted to be in a few years time. His
So as I stand with the sun on my back looking through
passion for farming and his own photos fired something in me
my lens, I thank Joe and think of his words of wisdom -
to take up photography in addition to my writing.
“Yer needin’ a richt guid auld fashion nudge in the richt
Travelling back with Ken we passed a Loch where a Highland cow was standing in the water cooling off. Ignoring Ken’s call of ‘Watch out for the bull behind you!’ I grabbed my camera and made my way through the mud in my high heels to get a good spot. The image I took astounded
38
Innovations from a small island
direction.” For more of Beverley Brown’s images and her contact details see www.hatton-photography.com
Science to Secure the Future of UK Agriculture
For more information visit: www.bbsrc.ac.uk or email: press.office@bbsrc.ac.uk Follow us on Twitter @BBSRC
ltriou © Thi nk y So st nd hamsted Res ea Rot r
© ity of Not tin ivers g Un
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© NIAB
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- Working with partners to accelerate the translation of research into practice
r Images Thin upite ksto ©J ck
- Strengthening the UK’s internationally-respected skills base
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©
- Maintaining and developing unique national facilities and resources
k oc
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- Supporting major strategic, long-term research programmes in top UK institutions
othamsted Resea rch ©R
Each year, BBSRC invests over £90M on agricultural research and training on behalf of UK tax payers. This funding helps to underpin the agricultural industry by: The world’s longest-running agronomic experiments at Rothamsted Research continue to be an invaluable resource today. Inset: The discovery, by John Innes Centre researchers, of ‘synteny’ in cereals – whereby the location of blocks of genes can be located in similar positions within the genomes of different species – has been at the heart of wheat breeding research for the past 20 years.
The new £100M+ BBSRC National Virology Centre will build on research and disease surveillance programmes at The Pirbright Institute, which helped save UK farming an estimated £485M by keeping Britain bluetongue-free in 2008. Inset: Precise rainfall data collected at the North Wyke Farm Platform in Devon are being used to trial new grasses that may help reduce flooding.
A postgraduate training course at Harper Adams University College was named ‘Meat Course Training Scheme of the Year’. The course is supported by BBSRC’s AgriFood Advanced Training Partnership – one of four partnerships totalling £13M. Inset: Over the past 6 years, BBSRC has funded over 500 agri-food PhD studentships.
New technologies to optimise broiler genetic stocks are being developed by Cobb Europe together with researchers at The Roslin Institute as part of the £18M TSB/BBSRC Agri-tech Catalyst. Inset: BBSRC leads a number of public-private partnerships, such as the £7M Crop Improvement Research Club, that help to direct funding into areas that meet industry needs.
Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme The Scottish Government has funded a rural leadership programme since 2006, here Julia Latto, Project Manager for Scottish Enterprise Rural Operations explains more about what it is and why it is so important to Scotland. The Vision “We believe in a prosperous rural Scotland created by the
programme during autumn and spring 2012/13 gave me 10 years experience in one year”
drive, ambition and love of people of our Rural Leadership
SERLP continues to go from strength to strength. As
network. A network of Rural Leaders that ignite the
such SE has committed to support the Programme for a
entrepreneurial spark and uncover the passion both within
further 4 years. By 2017/18 Scottish Enterprise will have
themselves and the people they come into contact with.”
invested over £2.1 million in rural leadership development with a talent pool of 500+ rural leaders in a network which supports collaboration, sharing of knowledge and expertise and a willingness to help others succeed. SERLP has demonstrated that investing in outstanding leadership is crucial to the economic growth of Rural Scotland. Improving leadership skills, enhancing business performance, investing in its people, creating new businesses, introducing new products and services, broadening mind-sets on what’s possible not only creates opportunity now for businesses, but an investment in opportunities which last a lifetime.
Rural leaders at the IFAJ The 2011/12 Leadership group including IFAJ2014 organisers Jane Craigie, Caroline Millar, Janelle Anderson and Claire Moncreiff
The Scottish Enterprise Rural Leadership Programme (SERLP) is a unique and challenging programme, targeted at farmers and rural business managers who have a desire to develop their leadership skills and grow their business. SERLP is designed to raise the aspiration and confidence of leaders in rural Scotland, aiming to create additional wealth through leading effectively, team working, collaboration, widening networks, influencing and by being ambitious. It achieves this by developing the capacity of individuals,
Seven Scottish Enterprise Rural leaders are involved with the 2014 IFAJ Congress: Jane Craigie – Chairman of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists (Day job runs Jane Craigie Marketing) Caroline Millar – Event Manager IFAJ 2014 (Day job runs The Hideaway Experience and Founder Go Rural Scotland) Adrian Ivory – IFAJ 2014 Host for the Market Makers’ tour (Day job - a beef and arable farmer) Mike McLaren – IFAJ 2014 Host for the Market
building their confidence to lead, widening their boundaries,
Makers’ tour (day job - a fresh produce, potato and
building industry and parliamentary trust, providing an
arable farmer)
awareness of rural economic and broader issues and introducing individuals to the wider rural leadership network. Since 2006 SERLP has evolved to become a national leadership programme which is highly regarded by both the businesses who participate and key rural stakeholders. Two quotes which summarise the experience felt by many are “The programme turned my life around and widened by horizons” ; “You could say the 12 days spent on the
40
Innovations from a small island
Claire Moncrieff – Logistics and accommodation, IFAJ 2014 (day job - The Hideaway Experience) Bob Dow – IFAJ 2014 organising committee (day job - media relations Scottish Police) Janelle Anderson – IFAJ 2014 organising committee (day job - Office Manager, Aberdeen Grain)
Waitrose Backing innovation and excellence in agriculture and proudly supporting IFAJ Congress 2014 For further details about Waitrose, contact John Gregson on 01344 824573 or on john.gregson@waitrose.co.uk
Waitrose and innovation in farming Waitrose Director of Agriculture Heather Jenkins explains the value that Waitrose places on agricultural innovation
M
ark Twain once famously said that ‘Accident is
Spedan gave his life’s work the title Partnership for All and
the name of the greatest of all inventors,’ and it is
set about building one of the world’s largest co-owned
largely because of accident that Waitrose exists
businesses. It was in the 1950s that the Second Trust
at all.
Waitrose is the supermarket division of the John Lewis
Settlements were signed, signalling the beginning of the business we know today.
Partnership, one of the world’s largest employee-owned
Rather like the USA, the John Lewis Partnership has a
businesses. Everyone who works for the business is one
constitution that governs everything we do. Principle
of its owners and shares in the profits. We firmly believe
One states:
that our business model leads to better customer service
The Partnership’s ultimate purpose is the happiness of all its members, through their worthwhile and satisfying employment in a successful business. Because the Partnership is owned in trust for its members, they share the responsibilities of ownership as well as its rewards - profit, knowledge and power.
and a focus on the long term, as there are no shareholders looking to make a quick buck. However, we came about almost by accident. John Spedan Lewis, our founder, fell off his horse one day in the 1920s. While he was recuperating he had something of an epiphany when he realised that in the previous year, he, his father and brother had each earned more from the business than their entire workforce combined. In one of his later books on the topic of co-ownership, he recounts how, not long after the First World War, he could have taken more than £1million out of the business and retired… and that’s not £1million adjusted for inflation - that’s £1million at 1920 value or around £40 million in 2014 money.
Only in the constitutions of the USA and Bhutan is happiness referenced in this way. One of the key phrases in the constitution is: worthwhile and satisfying employment in a successful business. That means that we have to be good at what we do. Our Partners, as everyone who works in and owns the business is called, must feel secure and valued. But we
But Spedan had developed a conscience, so he set about
must also work in a commercially successful business.
creating a business model that allowed all of his colleagues
One of the most important roles of shareholders in a listed
to share in the success of the business.
company is to challenge management on the way they do
42
Innovations from a small island
things. In Waitrose it is our Partners who do this through
Recently this has been addressed and the UK government’s
a network of councils and local bodies whose role it is to
new £160 million Agri-Tech Strategy developed by BIS and
fearlessly challenge those who run our operations.
Defra is expected to help bridge the gap between new
This means that everyone in the business is empowered and encouraged to play as large a part in our democracy as they feel able. We know through regular anonymous surveys that our people are happier and our staff turnover is lower. But as well as the way we treat our people, this long term approach extends into the way we source our food. To shamelessly steal a phrase from Professor Tim Lang of City University, we believe in Values for Money, not just value. We set out more than 30 years ago to do things differently from other supermarkets, because we wanted to ensure that we could work with our producers in 30 years, not just 30 weeks or even 30 months. This led us to set up our supplier groups. Focused on sectors, such as dairy, beef and lamb, our farmers work closely together to ensure best practice in production and business and this collaborative approach comes with an open book policy. The benchmarking of suppliers against their peers has helped them better understand their costs, increase yields, ensure quality, cut disease and maximise profit. This supports our belief that supplier sustainability and “trading fairly” actually means sensible and realistic business practice. We have also established the Waitrose Farming Partnership (WFP), an umbrella group that brings together all our farmers to share the benefits of working with Waitrose. It is the kind of network where we can all go to help us find solutions to problems and our Agriculture Strategy is the framework that underpins all of this. It is laid out under four key pillars – sustainability of Supply,
research and its uptake by industry. Furthermore, a number of organisations, including the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE), are working to recreate the free-to-user, public advisory and extension services that ADAS delivered before it was privatised, while the devolved governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland continue to deliver publicly-funded services.
And we’re trying to do our bit too. Through our sponsorship of the Waitrose Chair; our support of work at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS, also at Aberystwyth); support from many of our suppliers; our funding, through HRH The Prince of Wales’s Charities, of the Soil Associationled Duchy Originals Future Farming Programme. Other examples of work we have been involved in include: Developing an efficient Forage-Based System for ruminants. Fluorescent markers to identify on-line faecal contamination of carcasses. Sustainable lamb production and genetic traits. And recent media coverage with the Sureroot project which uses grass hybrids to increase resilience to drought and withstand flooding. For details of the initiatives supported by Waitrose, see our IFAJ 2014 profile page at www.ifaj2014.com or see www.waitrose.com
Stakeholder Engagement, Environmental Sustainability and Optimal Efficiency. Within this there are three parent groups: the Livestock Steering Group, the Fish Forum, and the Agronomy Group, covering livestock, aquaculture and fresh produce respectively. This has driven some key work streams through applied science, with the sponsorship of the Waitrose Chair for Sustainable Agriculture at Aberystwyth University. It has also seen the WFP land multi-million pound research projects looking at the production and sourcing of animal feed, both in ruminant and monogastric groups. I hope this demonstrates how we think the support of scientific innovation is important. Each year the UK spends approximately £450 million of public money on research in agri-food and related sciences, but during the last few decades, the UK’s 100-year lead in world agriculture has stagnated.
Innovations from a small island
43
Tradition and innovation at ANM
ANM Group Ltd is one of the UK’s largest farmer’s co-operatives operating in the heart of the north east of Scotland and playing a major role in Scotland’s agricultural economy. The Group’s core business is livestock marketing but it is also highly diversified with interests in the land market, non-agricultural auctions, events and the catering/ hospitality industry.
44
Innovations from a small island
P
eople are key to the Group’s success. The 7000
auctions and the move in to the high quality catering and
farmer-shareholders who own the business have
events market are examples of the innovative approach
a direct involvement in the direction of the group
which has made ANM Group one of the most successful
through the medium of the board of directors and this is a major factor in the stability of the business.
farmer-owned businesses in the UK. Inspired by the innovative spirit of the pioneering farmers
The professional and innovative management team and
who established the original business in 1872, ANM
skilled staff ensure that ANM Group continues to develop
Group is acknowledged as one of the most dynamic and
and grow its business in line with the aspirations of its
progressive businesses serving the UK farming industry.
members. Continued investment in development and
On behalf of the ANM Group, we extend a very warm
training is designed to provide staff with the skills needed to
welcome to the IFAJ delegates and guests. It gives the
ensure the delivery of the high-quality service that members
Group great pleasure to play a part in the IFAJ Congress
and customers have come to expect.
for 2014 and we hope you enjoy your time with us at the
With annual sales of ÂŁ150m, the core operation of livestock auctions at Thainstone and Caithness together with online auction platforms, diversification in to non-agricultural
Thainstone Agricultural Centre and also enjoy your time here in Scotland. See www.anmgroup.co.uk for more information.
Innovations from a small island
45
Agritourism: defining the sector in Scotland By Jane Craigie
A
gritourism has existed in Scotland for many years
have developed their highly successful agritourism activities,
but its constituent parts are now coming together
currently number one in the world with a 1.2 billion euro sector.
with one voice representing what has become
a defined sector. Driven by the impetus that Caroline Millar - via her membership organisation Go Rural - has created and with the growing recognition of the sector as fundamental to Scotland’s rural economy. “Agritourism is based on the diversification of farm businesses into tourism and leisure, and which have food and drink as an integral part of the visitor experience,” explains Caroline.
“Scottish tourism as a whole - including visitors to our cities - has an ambitious target of increasing annual turnover by £1bn from overseas visitors by 2020. Agritourism could play a key role in this,” Caroline notes. “We estimate that the agritourism sector in Scotland is worth £100 million directly to farmers and would like to grow this to £200 million per annum in the next three to five years.” “There is international consumer demand for agritourism which is well established and well defined in Italy and many
Through partnerships with other public and private
other countries of the world; the work we are doing here
organisations, Go Rural is currently researching the value
aims to define the Scottish version of agritourism.”
of the sector to the Scottish economy and is putting in place a plan to raise the profile of the sector to international consumers, who are already electing to take agritourism holidays elsewhere in the world.
Scottish Enterprise, the national economic development agency in Scotland, is funding two monitor farm discussion groups to hear grassroot farmers’ views on agritourism and to exchange knowledge while generating new product and service ideas for the sector. Go Rural is organising study trips to Italy so that Scottish agritourism business owners can see how Italian farmers
46
Innovations from a small island
The Scottish ‘way’ she suggests is focused on authentic experience, visiting Scottish farms, estates or crofts. “This will bring the story of Scotland’s farming culture and heritage alive for our visitors. Our role is as guardians of the environment and, most importantly, providing food and
drink to our markets at home and abroad, as commodities or added-value products.” On average, she explains, agritourism uses a fraction of a farm’s available land, it often generates higher levels of turnover and profit than the farming enterprise and employs more people - including the full span of generations of the farming family. “Agritourism sustains rural communities, particularly in fragile areas where agriculture and tourism are often the only viable livelihoods. We believe that agritourism could help boost Scottish food and drink exports, in the same way that Italy uses agritourism as a food export strategy.” Caroline adds that - like Italy - the aim is that visitors to Scotland stay on a Scottish farm, eat Scottish food, learn about how it is grown and then go home and buy Scottish
Moving forward 24 years, Caroline and her husband,
products.
Ross, set up a tourism farm diversification - The Hideaway
Essential to make the strategy really work, there needs to be investment in skills and training such as hospitality management, story-telling and communications, as well as development of the agritourism offer. “We also need to encourage those with the right personal attributes and farm locations to enter the sector - the right people and places are essential for growth.”
Go Rural was set up to drive the agritourism sector forward - and to provide it with a united voice. It is a membership organisation representing the sector and provides lobbying, business-to-business support and consumer campaigns.
Experience - on the family farm, just north of Dundee. This is now an established business running alongside the existing farming operation. Their tourism business uses less than 0.75 acres of land but is generating comparable profit levels to the farming enterprise and has had no impact on the output of the farm. Their small business plays a big part in the local economy with thousands of pounds spent by guests on local farm produce, transport, activities and restaurants. This is an example of what diversified farm businesses can achieve for rural development. It was recently announced that Caroline is to be a director of the UK’s leading agricultural conference, the Oxford Farming Conference. Over the years a number of British Guild of Agricultural Journalist members have been involved in the event that helps set the farming scene every January.
About Caroline Millar
Useful links:
Caroline Millar is the 2014 Congress’ Event Manager.
www.goruralscotland.com
She runs a diversified tourism business - The Hideaway
www.goruralforbusiness.com
Experience - for the ‘couples’ market and also runs the
www.thehideawayexperience.co.uk
rural business membership organisation Go Rural. Caroline recently undertook a Nuffield study Selling the Farm Experience. Her study looked at diversified farm businesses and the impact that their diversification had on the farming family and the local economy. Those going on the Finzean tour will hear an update from Caroline over lunch on the
www.nuffieldinternational.org/rep_ pdf/1406217276Caroline-Millar-report-2012.pdf
Scottish Enterprise Agritourism Monitor Farms:
agritourism sector in Scotland and her role in driving it
www.goruralforbusiness.com/monitor-farm/the-
forward. A number of delegates have also taken up Go
farms
Rural’s offer of a stay in a Scottish agritourism business in
www.peelfarm.com
return for media coverage.
www.lagganoutdoor.co.uk
Caroline grew up on a family farm in Perthshire where, as
Contact Caroline
well as helping on the farm, she played an active role in
caroline@goruralforbusiness.com
the farmhouse bed and breakfast business. She grew up welcoming tourists from all over the world to experience farm life.
@GoRuralScotland @LuxuryHideaways
Innovations from a small island
47
Scottish Food Exports: Now and the Future By James Withers, Chief Executive, Scotland Food & Drink
S
cotland Food & Drink is an industry-led,
Exports will have doubled in a decade if this is achieved and
commercially-focused membership organisation
the figures indicate that we are on track to do so.
which works to grow the value of the country’s food
and drink sector to £16.5bn by 2017 and build Scotland’s international reputation as a Land of Food and Drink
The county’s iconic whisky is exported to more than 200 markets around the world earning £140 revenue every second. At any one time, 18 million casks of Scotland’s
The food and drink industry is one of Scotland’s strongest
national drink are maturing in warehouses the length and
performing sectors and we are blessed with some of the
breadth of the country. With over 100 distilleries playing
best produce in the world. The quality of our offering is
host to over one million visitors every year, whisky is a
a result of our clean environment and skilled producers as well as a flair for innovation. With a fantastic natural larder and longstanding reputation for producing premium products both at home and abroad, the Scottish food and drink industry is booming.
In 2007, the food and drink industry in Scotland set a growth target of £12.5bn turnover by 2017. We smashed that target six years early and have now raised it to £16.5bn by 2017 as Scotland’s food and drink sales continue to soar. A significant part of the industry growth has come from exports, the sector boasts Scotland’s fastest growing export sector with the total value of food and drink exports having already increased a staggering 52 per cent between
James Withers spreads the word about Scottish food excellence
Scottish icon and it is going from strength to strength. Whisky has helped grow a reputation for Scotland as a home of premium quality products, offering as it does a neat marriage of heritage and innovation.
2007 and 2012. The original export target of £5bn set
Scottish food is following the stellar example that whisky
in 2007 was also surpassed six years early and the new
has set over the last 120 years and is now available in more
growth target of £7.1bn by 2017 has now been fixed.
than 100 markets across the globe. There is enormous
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Innovations from a small island
scope across the world to further develop sales in both new
How do we intend to reach the growth target? The
and established markets. In addition to strong global brands
Scotland Food & Drink Partnership – comprising the
Scotland presents a wide and ever expanding offering to
Scottish Government, Scotland Food & Drink, Scottish
overseas markets. Such is the growing success of the
Development International and the main exporting trade
country’s brand and reputation, Scotland now exports fish
associations – have recently launched an export strategy
to Japan, cheese to France and tea to China.
for the industry. The strategy sees tangible investment
2014 is an important year for Scotland representing an opportunity that we’ve embraced- playing host to two of
to support the delivery of export growth ambitions, establishing in-country roles in key markets.
the world’s largest sporting events the upcoming Ryder
The sustained success of the industry will be delivered
Cup and July’s Commonwealth Games, we have worked
through continued shared ambition and working in
hard to show off our food and drink to give the world a
partnership. The industry work collaboratively to achieve
taste of Scotland.
a common goal and this work is underpinned by a strong
Building on a strong home market, there is a real appetite in the industry for unlocking our potential in both established export markets and breaking in to new regions. The challenge and opportunity is clear, we need to export a wider range of products to a greater number of markets. Working with Scotland Food & Drink partners across the industry, work is underway transform export activity to achieve this. Support is in place for Scottish food and drink companies of all sizes and type to exploit the opportunities available irrespective of their current experience and penetration. This activity will build on the success of
relationship with key partners including the Scottish government. Our excellent provenance credentials will ensure that Scottish produce continues to command a strong premium position in UK and international markets in this and future years. Scotland’s reputation as a Land of Food and Drink continues to grow and with it the success of our industry. james.withers@scotlandfoodanddrink.org Twitter: @scotfoodjames www.scotlandfoodanddrink.org
established exports such as fish and seafood.
Innovations from a small island
49
A taste of success at the Congress Visitors to the Congress will be able to savour the best food and drink that north east Scotland has to offer. Summerhouse Drinks A new range of soft drinks from the innovative team behind Berry Scrumptious, made on the Aberdeenshire family farm using natural ingredients and no artificial colours or flavours.
James Hutton Institute - Blueberries for Mackies BBQ Sales of blueberries rose by 60 per cent last year and the James Hutton Institute is working on R&D to help to increase British supply which only accounts for 3 per cent of sales.
Finzean - Lunch on Thursday’s Tour Finzean Estate has been in the Farquharson family for 16
Waitrose - Snacks and water for bus
generations and Congress delegates will enjoy produce
Waitrose is a national supermarket and part of the John
from its tea rooms and farm shop while gazing over one of
Lewis Parnership and a principal sponsor of the Congress.
Royal Deeside’s most spectacular views.
Fresh, quality food is at the heart of what they do and they want to know where the food comes from, how it’s been
Mackies of Scotland - Ice cream for the barbeque and Mackies crisps
produced and what it contains. It all starts with long-term
The Mackie family is hosting us for the Friday afternoon and They are also supplying us crisps for the coaches. Mackie’s
Benzies - Lunch host on field crop and potatoes tour
of Scotland is based at Westertown Farm, a 1600 acre farm
Philip Benzie has been committed to quality arable farming
in Aberdeenshire. The farm’s ‘Sky to Scoop’ process means
in Scotland for most of his life and is the proud grower of
the wind provides power for the farm that grows the crops
Scotty Brand’s delicious carrots. His carrots thrive in the fertile
to feed the cows who make the milk (and cream) to make
Aberdeenshire soil, with its wealth of nutrients and consistently
Mackie’s ice cream.
cooler temperatures. The lunch will provide a chance to
evening - supplying venue, tours, ice-cream and the drink.
relationships with farmers and suppliers.
sample home grown produce and locally reared meats.
The Store - BBQ at Mackies on the Booth family at Foveran, where grass-fed lamb and
Bogside Farm Shop - Highland beef for Field Crops and Potatoes Tour
Aberdeen Angus beef are reared in small numbers. There is
The Bruce family started the butchery business in 2005 and
a well-stocked meat counter and a range of locally sourced
in just a short time Bogside farm shop has rapidly grown
foods including vegetables and cheeses.
into a thriving business, serving the local community and
An active local farm and coffee shop, The Store is located
Connage Dairy - Cheese at Mackies Connage Highland Dairy is a traditional, family-owned, fully organic business, situated on the family farm at Ardersier,
visitors alike. First class produce including a wide selection of beef, pork and lamb products all bred and reared on site or locally.
near Inverness. Connage is owned by brothers Callum and
Highland Cattle Society
Cameron and their wives Jill and Eileen. Callum and Jill
Highland cattle are renowned for their majestic horns and
manage the cheese side of the business using their years
long, thick, flowing coat of rich hair which have made them a
of experience and producing a fully traceable quality end
major tourist attraction in their native Scotland. But they are
product – multi award winning cheese. Cameron and Eileen
more than a “picture postcard” breed and hardy Highland
undertake the majority of the work on the farm themselves,
cattle thrive and breed where no other cattle could exist.
from breeding and managing the dairy herd to milking them.
50
Innovations from a small island
Deeside Activity Park - Beef & Red Meat Tour
ABP - Beef for the Market Makers tour ABP works with a network of over 35,000 farmers and is
The Deeside Activity Park, located on Royal Deeside,
renowned for paying its suppliers on the day of delivery at
so named because the royal family spend their summer
strategically located local abattoirs that minimise animal
holidays at nearby Balmoral, is owned by local farmers
transport distances. It recognises that it farmer suppliers
and Aberdeen-Angus breeders, Ken and Margaret Howie.
are vital partners.
Facilities include a restaurant, farm shop and huge indoor activities area. Delegates taking part in the red meat tour can look forward to a lunch featuring Aberdeen-Angus beef produced on the farm.
Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society Beef & Red Meat Tour
Castleton - Berries for Thursday dinner and Market Makers Tour The Mitchell family farms a 710 acre arable and fruit production at Castleton farm, near Laurencekirk south of Aberdeen and were awarded Soft Fruit Grower of the Year 2009.
The Aberdeen-Angus breed is Scotland’s iconic beef cattle breed which has been exported all over the world. The black cattle are noted for their easy calving, easy fleshing and ability to thrive on grass and produce the highest quality marbled beef which commands a premium price.
British Simmental Cattle Society Lunch on Arable and Whisky tour Simmental cattle were first imported into the UK from Switzerland, Germany and Austria in the early 1970s and the breed has expanded to become the fourth largest although Simmental cows are not used to produce milk in
Taste of Grampian - Dinner on 6th September
the UK as they are on the Continent.
Grampian is the name of one of the three major mountain
beef breed in the UK. The breed is seen as dual purpose
ranges in Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council has developed the Taste of Grampian brand to promote the wide range of food produced in the area, from both land and sea. Delegates to the IFAJ Congress will enjoy a Taste of Grampian dinner, supported by the Council, on Saturday night. Lamb - Ian Galloway, Scotbeef Cheese - Devenick Dairy
Sheridan’s butcher - Scotch beef for Gala Dinner at Raemoir House Hotel Butcher H M Sheridan purchases beef, black-face heather-
Taste of Angus lunch on the Market Makers tour Angus is home to some of Scotland’s finest quality produce - Aberdeen Angus beef, Arbroath Smokies, the distinctive Forfar bridies and a range of succulent soft fruits. ‘A Taste of Angus ‘ promotes the use of this local produce locally,
fed sheep and outdoor pork from local farmers with wild venison sourced from a local estate. The firm has Royal Warrants to supply both the Queen and Prince Charles.
Congress tipples Glenlivet whisky - Hiighlits of the Highlands tour
nationally and internationally and support those businesses
Glen Garioch whisky - Mackies
involved in their production.
Glendronach - 50 bottles provided by the Press & Journal in memory of Joe Watson for the Ceilidh night Dunnottar Wines - Sheep on Fire lager
Innovations from a small island
51
The wonderful world of Scotch whisky By Andrew Arbuckle, Scotsman farming editor and 2012 winner of the BGAJ Netherthorpe Award
J
ust as some countries are noted for the qualities
been annually destroyed by excisemen employed by the
of their wines and for others the subtleties of their
Government. The most famous of those excisemen, or
brandies, so Scotland is known throughout the world
gaugers, was Scotland’s National Bard (poet) Robert Burns.
for its whisky.
One favourite method of avoiding the officials was to place
If that sounds boastful, remember that currently Scotland
the whisky in a coffin safe in the knowledge no one would
exports £4 billion worth of whisky to 200 countries. As
interrupt the sanctity of a funeral – even if no one had
an industry, whisky manufacture directly employs 10,000
actually died.
people; making it a vital source of work in some of the
Illegal manufacturing and smuggling of whisky died out after
remote areas of Scotland
History of whisky distilling Scotland has been making whisky for some time with the earliest record of distillation going back to 1494 when Friar John Cor was granted permission to use “eight bolls of malt to make aqua vitae”.
the passing of the Excise Act which licensed distilleries. Many of today’s old distilleries are built on formerly illegal sites.
Whisky on the world market Ironically one of the original reasons for the worldwide demand for Scotch whisky was the economic depression within Scotland. As new countries were explored and
From his malt, the good friar was able to produce 1,500
opportunities of a better life in these colonies were
bottles of spirit. History does not recall who drunk this
identified, boatloads of Scots travelled to the four corners of
distillation but it is more than likely that the majority of it was
the world. And they took their love of whisky with them.
consumed in the monastery in which he lived. His skills then spread through other monasteries. When these places of retreat and worship were dissolved, monks and others who
Other economic factors also played a role in expanding the world market for whisky. Few as significant as the
had lived within their walls then put their whisky making
phylloxera beetle that devastated French vineyards in the
skills to use in the public domain.
1880s, thus taking both brandy and wine out of the market
And inevitably as consumption and popularity rose, the
for a spell.
politicians of the day decided to tax the end product. As
But it has not all been plain sailing with the Prohibition era
taxation rose, the numbers of illicit stills increased until
in the United States hitting sales to that country for a few
by 1820 it was reckoned that half the whisky produced
years in the 1920s. Trade sanctions and religious opposition
and drunk had come through stills where no duties had
to alcohol have also closed a number of potential markets
been paid. That despite some 14,000 illicit stills having
over the years; a problem that exists to the present day.
52
Innovations from a small island
Such is the worldwide recognition of Scotch Whisky and the financial benefits from having an international reputation that the Scottish whisky Association which looks after the interests of the industry all around the world actively pursues any fraudulent hi-jacking of the brand.
Can you tell the difference between whiskies? Step one in learning about whisky is to separate malt whisky which is produced using only water and malted barley distilled in pot stills and grain whisky which can not only include the two basic ingredients but may also involve other malts or un-malted cereals. A blended whisky is
Whisky contributes more than £4 billion in exports to the Scottish economy. Scotland is sending whisky to 200 countries. Whisky manufacture directly employs 10,000 people.
exactly what the word indicates; a combination a number of differing whiskies. The next main difference in whiskies is where they were distilled with Scotland having a number of important producing areas. These are: Speyside which has the largest number of distilleries. The Highlands of Scotland which has some of the older and smaller distilleries.
Today, the distillery is owned by the French alcoholic beverages company Pernod Ricard who oversee the distillery’s production of 5,900,000 proof litres per annum. The majority of this – enough for 6 million bottles – is sold as The Glenlivet single malt, with the remainder being used in Pernod Ricard’s blended whisky brands.
Glen Garioch Distillery One of the oldest operating distilleries in Scotland – Glen Garioch (pronounced Geery in the ancient Doric dialect) has
The Islands which may not officially be recognised as a
been making its mighty malt in Oldmeldrum, near Aberdeen in
region but includes all of the whisky-producing islands
north east Scotland, ever since 1797 and is a rare find indeed.
apart from Islay Lowland where only three distilleries remain in operation
Blessed with the north east’s mild climate, plentiful sunshine and not too much rain, Garioch is renowned as the finest
image: Chivas Brothers
barley growing area in the country. The founders, the Manson brothers, came from farming stock. John Monson, the son of the distillery’s founder maintained the family’s interest in tanning and acquired farms in the neighbourhood. He finished life with the proud title ‘Laird of Fingask’, and married Elizabeth Blaikie, a cousin of the explorer, David Livingstone
Glendronach Distillery From its hillside home in the Scottish Highlands, The Glendronach Distillery has been creating the finest richly sherried single malts for nearly 200 years. In 1826 James
Congress whiskies
Allardice founded the distillery and produced his ‘Guid
Glenlivet Distillery
the stewardship of investors such as Walter Scott. In more
A single malt whisky maker near Ballindalloch, in Moray, Scotland and produces single malt Scotch whisky. Founded in 1824, it is the oldest legal distillery in Glenlivet. The
(good) Glendronach’ single malt which has thrived under recent times, Glendronach has been owned by William Teacher & Sons and was bought by the Ben Riach Distillery in 2008.
distillery remained open throughout the Great Depression
Independent ownership now gives them freedom to rekindle
and its only closure came during World War ll. It grew in
the reputation of Glendronach with the re-launch 12, 15 and
the post-war period to become one of the biggest single
18 year-olds were re-launched, creating the Glendronach
malt distilleries and the Glenlivet brand is the biggest selling
Core Range. Since then, they have developed their portfolio
single malt whisky in the United States and the second
with some interesting wood finishes, excellent single cask
biggest selling single malt brand globally.
bottlings and fantastic additions to the core range.
Innovations from a small island
53
A skill for growing malting barley Dr Steve Hoad - Crop Science Team Leader, SRUC explores the grain behind the dram
E
ach year Scottish growers produce about 1.5 million tonnes of spring barley. Just over half of which is used for malting. Scotland also produces just under one
Tackling grain skinning to improve malt quality
million tonnes of wheat. About two-thirds of this goes to
The quality of malting barley is of paramount importance,
grain distilling.
for reasons of food safety, product quality and the
Compared to other parts of Europe most of Scotland’s
competitiveness of the UK cereals industry. Barley grains
barley goes to distilling rather than brewing or feed. Scotch
have an outer coat called a husk. Loss of the husk during
whisky or malt distilling accounts for 85 per cent of malting
harvest or post-harvest is called grain skinning. This
barley purchases, typically with a low grain nitrogen
undesirable condition has very serious consequences for
content. The remaining 15 per cent is high nitrogen barley
farming and food sectors that depend on UK malting barley.
that is used in grain distilling, where an unmalted cereal
Primarily, grain skinning is a serious problem in the malting
such as wheat or maize is the main ingredient.
process. However, its financial implications extend across the
Barley quality requirements are becoming more precise especially as characters affecting processing are taken into account. In the malting market some varieties are acceptable for distilling but not for brewing. Some varieties are inclined
whole supply chain. Breeders invest about ÂŁ2M in bringing a new barley variety to market, this spend is wasted if farmers and the malting industry no longer approve its use. Even low levels of skinning mean than loss of barley quality or malt
to dormancy, this can prejudice their use by maltsters.
production amounts to several ÂŁ million.
Others are prone to splitting, skinning or pre-germination;
If in a batch of barley there are grains without husks, the
these conditions may lead to rejection by maltsters.
malting process becomes very uneven as these grains
There is a large local wheat market for grain whisky
will take up water and begin to grow (germinate) more
production in Scotland. There is a strong preference for soft grain of large grain size, low protein
rapidly than grains with firmly adhering husks. Sometimes, grains without husks sustain
content, with good specific weight and low
damage that prevents them from starting to
screenings. Hard wheat varieties and those
grow (germination). This can give rise to mould
giving a reduced alcohol yield or process
growth. In grains with a loosely adhering husk,
limitation are discouraged by distillers. Grain
germination during malting tends to be more
whisky production also uses high enzyme
vigorous than in grains with a tightly adhering
malted barley: sourced from Scotland.
husk. This leads to handling problems and to
For biscuit-making, soft wheats are also
greater malting losses. In brewing, the husk
preferred. There is also demand for bread wheat
plays a vital role in filtration of the liquid that is
but only if quality specifications are fully met.
produced from mixing the malted barley with
Because of our climate, Scottish wheat is generally
hot water in the brewing vessel. Malting barley
lower in protein than its English counterpart. In wet harvests
is, therefore, rejected by maltsters if it contains an undue
the Hagberg falling number is so severely reduced that grain is
proportion of skinned grains, with either no husk or an
unlikely to meet bread-making requirements.
incomplete husk.
54
Innovations from a small island
image: Chivas Brothers
recommended for use by farmers and the malting industry. This will provide greater security for the UK barley supply chain and a more efficient development pipeline for the plant breeding of new varieties. An added benefit to farming is the promotion of more efficient use of inputs, as these will not be wasted on poor quality or rejected crops. The aim of this project is to understand how differences in grain development, and their genetic controls, give rise to skinning. The outcome is for new varieties to be bred without this undesirable condition. The key areas towards Weather conditions such as wet and dry spells during summer months appear to have a strong influence on skinning. However, so does the genetic make-up of different plant types (varieties). This means that an understanding
application of this research are: (1) Understanding how weaknesses in husk and grain growth cause skinning; (2) Establish procedures to screen-out weak varieties,
of how a plant’s genetic make-up influences grain skinning
based on their grain characteristics (phenotyping), that
will increase the likelihood of breeding new barley varieties
give rise to skinning;
without this undesirable condition. Differential growth the
(3) Identify the location of genes that influence or determine
husk and the underlying grain, or poor quality of the “glue”
skinning; this means relating genetic locations to grain
that bonds them together are likely causes of skinning.
characteristics which lead to resistant and susceptible
Crop breeding supported by high quality science will help to solve this problem, as it will underpin the development of new barley varieties, with improved husk adhesion properties, and thus provide more reliable grain and processing quality for the UK cereals supply chain. Identification of plant screening and genetic tests will enable susceptible barley varieties to be eliminated before they are
varieties; (4) Work towards the development of genetic (molecular) markers to identify ‘good’ and ‘poor’ varieties and thus eliminate weak varieties from being grown on farm and (5) The uptake of plant screening and genetic tests by crop breeders. For more on the SRUC see www.sruc.ac.uk
Eastern Scotland has the perfect mix of rain and sun for malting barley growing
Innovations from a small island
55
What’s a Ceilidh between friends? By Rob Brander, Deveron Arts Like many of the other good and fascinating things that Scotland has to offer, the ceilidh originated in the culture and folk life of the Gaelic-speaking people, mainly in the West and Highlands of the country.
dispensed whatever simple food was available to share. The womenfolk would often be spinning yarn, or knitting during the proceedings. Gaelic songs are often performed without musical accompaniment, but incorporate within them the natural rhythms of the weaving processes, or the trills and emphases peculiar to bagpipe music. However, if musical instruments were available in the household then they also would be brought forth. An old fiddle or even a well-worn bagpipe. So that’s what a ceilidh was originally. An informal and spontaneous domestic gathering of family, friends and neighbours who would entertain themselves in singing, recounting folklore, reciting verse, or just simply telling stories and sharing the news and gossip. One dictionary definition gives it simply as “visiting”.
Another significant tradition evolved separately in the late 18th to early 20th century in North-East Scotland, especially in Aberdeenshire. This was the tradition of the bothy ballad. Spontaneous ceilidh dancing recently in Huntly Town Square
Throughout this period farming in the region underwent
F
or a few centuries their language was spoken over most of Scotland, and where the language went, so usually did their heritage and cultural practices. In
the West and Highlands, gaelic was the native language of a largely peasant population, who scraped a subsistence existence on tiny parcels of frequently poor crofting land, and who depended very heavily on strength of community
massive changes. Myriad crofting and small farming units were closed down and incorporated by the major landowners into larger and more sustainable units. Land was enclosed, and fields enlarged. Wet ground was drained. Stone was cleared manually from the new fields, and was built laboriously into thousands of miles of “drystane dykes” or stone walls which were used to form the field divisions. New ideas of animal
and cooperation to survive in an unyielding (but very
husbandry were introduced, and so too were new crops and
beautiful!) environment. In days before modern roads and
new theories of crop rotation. Soils were improved. Modern
mechanisation.... in fact, in the days before journalists....
stone houses and farm buildings were designed and built
people in these usually tiny, isolated and dispersed rural
according to the latest theories of process efficiency.
communities had to form their own entertainments.
Inevitably, all of this generated widespread rural
The people of these communities would therefore seek
depopulation as uprooted people moved into expanding
social contact in the humble homes of each other when
towns, or emigrated to foreign lands on all the continents.
the day’s work was over. Such gatherings were completely
Another outcome was the emergence of an entire class
spontaneous and could result in several neighbours and family members being present in a small domestic space by candlelight.... both genders, and all age groups.
of contract workers on the enlarged farms.... men to do the immensely demanding physical work of improving and working the land, or tending the livestock. Horses were
The gaelic-speaking world had a strong oral tradition, and so
used in great numbers before modern machinery, and they
it usually wasn’t long before someone would start to sing or
required large numbers of skilled men to work with them.
to recite in verse. Stories would be told. Puzzles could be set.
On every “improved” farm the single men slept in “bothies”,
Gossip would be exchanged. There was no premeditation.
little more than communal bunkhouses. It was a hard,
It was informal and all would join in while the host or hostess
unrelenting life of long hours and little reward.
56
Innovations from a small island
The cultural scene of Scotland is also typefied by traditional Scottish Country Dancing, which is social formation dancing, but its origins are more difficult to explain. Which came first, the musical forms or the dance patterns? I don’t know, but there are three main types of dance. These are reels, jigs and strathspeys depending on the type of music to which they are danced. The first two are fast and lively, while the third is gentler. But all are quite complex and often require someone to “call” the dances and guide the inexperienced through the steps. No matter how inexperienced, they are always great fun and very sociable.
A master at work: local farmer Paul Anderson, master of the Scottish fiddle tradition
So the male population of the North-East would be gathered every evening in these simple bothy accommodations, and if there was any energy left after a day’s toil they would make their own entertainment. Apart from gossip and complaints, this consisted mainly of music and song. Fiddle, melodeon, whistle and mouth organ were commonplace in the bothies, and since the men were largely itinerant workers the particular mixture of men and
Nowadays the word ceilidh has a new meaning. It is now
musical talents on a farm would change regularly. The tales
commonly applied to a kind of organised dance party,
of life on other farms would circulate widely. Anyone who
where traditional music and dance are the main but not
didn’t have an instrument could beat the rhythm on the
necessarily the only ingredients. There can also be singing
floor with their “tackety beets” (tough leather boots with iron
of bothy ballads, playing of bagpipes or fiddle, solo or team
studs in the soles to prolong the life of the leather). It was
displays of competitive Highland Dancing, etc.
an entire sub-culture. And its main cultural feature lay in the
So today’s ceilidh may be more about community dance
songs, or bothy ballads, which these hardy men composed
and music than was originally the case, but above all it is still
as they cheered each other up in their bothies, competing
about visiting and socialising with friends. If you’re not friends
to invent new verses to add into the songs.
when you arrive at a ceilidh, you will be when you leave!
The female servants in the farmhouse were inevitably often a theme in these songs. However, the main topic of most of the songs was the composer’s experience on a particular farm, or in his dealings with the farmer. The farming scene featured throughout, but it was the satirisation of the most unpopular farms and farmers which offered the greatest entertainment, the greatest compositional stimulus, as
Deveron Arts is based in the rural Scottish market town of Huntly. Through a focus on the human pace we work from here with the history, context and identity of this and other places.
well as the greatest release of pent-up frustrations. The
Deveron Arts has no building - instead the town
reputation of farms and farmers was spread through song.
is the venue - acting as studio, gallery and stage
So original ceilidh forms and North-East farming bothy traditions were based on oral traditions, music and song. The rhythms of life on the land had a huge influence. But so far no dancing!
for artists of all disciplines invited from around the world to live and work here. This brings together artistic and social relationships in a global network that extends throughout and beyond the geographic boundaries of Huntly. See www.deveron-arts.com
Innovations from a small island
57
Harbro: putting innovation in practice Harbro has long been synonymous with innovation. The company’s initial development owed much to a radically different approach to young pig nutrition developed jointly with leading scientists at the Rowett Institute, Aberdeen.
S
ince those days, Harbro has continued to foster close
used to help with selection, breeding policy, management,
relationships with Scottish Universities and research
nutrition, health and selection for slaughter.
institutes and is recognised as contributing to the
development of modern practices on livestock farms. Key to the research carried out by Harbro is the involvement of progressive livestock producers; all projects must be relevant to producers and must address issues they identify with.
Our own investigations into rumen acidosis and the prevalence of ‘blackened’ rumens at slaughter added real weight to the development of Maxammon grain treatment. A simple, safe treatment for mature grain or wholecrop, the resulting product has an alkaline pH 8-9 which helps to buffer the rumen. Maxammon also increases the protein level by approximately 30%, reducing the requirement for ‘bought-in’ protein. The drive for improved feed conversion led to the creation of Rumitech, an additive which captures more energy from feed, reduces energy loss through methane production and increases the rate of rumen digestion with a larger rumen bacterial population. The addition of Rumitech has given improved killingout percentage and grading in beef and in dairy cows,
The company has invested heavily in technology to improve
performance has improved particularly in early lactation
the understanding of the dynamics of production, the
where intakes and body condition loss are major issues –
causes of variation and its impact in the abattoir. The key
and have a major impact on fertility.
focus of this investment is to work closely with the industry to improve product quality, consistency, efficiency and, most important, profitability. Harbro’s ongoing projects include rumen health, acidosis and new protein sources. With producers paying increased attention to feed efficiency and understanding the dynamics of feed intake and patterns of growth, Harbro developed Qscan, which is now being used globally to track pig growth though visual imaging. Willie Thomson, Harbro technical director says “The greatest revelation for us at the start was the spread of pig weights and the ability for us to monitor this variation on a daily basis. Crucially, this gave us the ability to track the
And staying on fertility, a seasonal problem in pigs, Harbro’s
growth rate of the lowest quartile of pigs – a great indicator
Porcimax Plus has kick-started a fertility upsurge in UK
of risk from health or diet inadequacy.”
herds, by increasing oestrus activity and reducing energy
Transferring this technology to the beef sector, qscan
drain caused by lactation.
will be used in a three year abattoir-based project to
Creating innovative technology is very laudable but the
help understand liveweight gain, body condition and
real value is when it is put into practice on farm, improving
conformation. The data on spread of growth rate will be
performance. www.harbro.co.uk
58
Innovations from a small island
Nutritional Solutions from Harbro Guthrie Batchelor,The Hatton, Carnoustie "Next year, we will certainly be treating all the sows and all the gilts with Porcimax Plus over the problem months. Going forward, we hope that the elimination of seasonal infertility will give us better use of our buildings and labour and more even intakes of gilts throughout the year” says Mr Batchelor.
P rci MAX+
“After having tried so many avenues to overcome the problem, I feel we have broken the back of the problem with something that actually works.” William Morison, Bogbain, Keith “Since moving to feeding the Energyze licks, there has been no instance of Twin Lamb and this has definitely given me peace of mind. It makes life so much easier. Ewes also carried their condition quite well over the winter; the Energyze Forage Booster seemed to help keep them contented on the limited grass throughout the winter." says Mr Morison. "The ewes were easily lambed this year. The lambs were very wet at birth and had good vigour which was exactly what I wanted. The fish oils, mannans and Sel-Plex selenium included in the Energyze Vitality ensured my ewes had plenty milk and good quality colostrum." ®
David Yates, Meikle Firthhead, Castle Douglas “The cows have certainly been carrying more condition across the herd and haven’t suffered as a result of producing more milk. The most notable effect has been on the calving interval which has been reduced from 419 in June 2013 to 393 at the end of July.The complete package with Rumitech has made a real change to the herd. The proof is in the pudding and it really has done a fantastic job.”
Chris Stockdale, Carr House Farm, Allerston, Pickering “The product was very attractive to me as I want to use home-grown forage and crops. The treatment was simple – harvest, treat, sheet it for a few weeks and the result is a stable product that keeps well for months.” “The cows have had very healthy rumens all winter and the digestion has been good. They have had good dung consistency. I am still feeding the treated grain and they have milked well on it.” “The cows have had a better winter on fertility – it all boils down to rumen health, if the health is good then everything else will follow.”
Telephone +44 (0)1888 545200 www.harbro.co.uk
Stagecoach Group: delivering greener, smarter travel Transport operator Stagecoach Group was founded in 1980 with just two buses by Perthshire-born Sir Brian Souter and his sister Ann Gloag OBE. Now, the Group is an international transport operator with bus, coach, rail and tram services across the UK and North America, delivering vital transport services for more than a billion people every year. As well as providing transport services for the Congress, Sir Brian will be addressing the Saturday dinner. Stagecoach is a proud
passengers a year in the UK, Europe and the US. megabus.
Scottish company with its
com continues to expand further with new locations
head office in Perth. As
recently added to its US and European networks as well
a major employer and a
as a network of overnight sleepercoach services - using
significant investor in other
vehicles with seats that convert into lie-flat beds - which
businesses through the
operate in the UK.
supply chain, the Group plays a vital role in the economies of the countries in which it operates and provides crucial transport links to help people access employment, education, health and leisure opportunities.
Now Stagecoach Group Chairman, Sir Brian Souter is one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs and transport innovators. A strong advocate of businesses being an integral part of the communities they serve, Sir Brian also makes significant personal financial contributions to a wide variety of good causes through the Souter Charitable Trust. The
Stagecoach’s success is built on providing good value,
trust provides financial support to social projects, medical
high-quality and reliable bus and rail travel. The Group also
research and organisations promoting spiritual welfare. Sir
takes seriously its environmental responsibilities and, under
Brian is also Chairman of Souter Investments, his private
the leadership of Sir Brian Souter who was Group Chief
investment vehicle. It invests in a diverse range of private
Executive until May 2013, Stagecoach has developed a
equity funds, bonds, quoted and unquoted investments and
reputation for delivering innovative ideas and new transport
commercial and residential property. A qualified chartered
solutions for customers.
accountant, Sir Brian has been a long-standing supporter of
Now, with Sir Brian in the role of Chairman, and Chief
business in Scotland.
Executive Martin Griffiths at the forefront of the Group’s growth strategy, Stagecoach is continuing to lead the way in the provision of greener, smarter travel. As the UK’s biggest bus operator, Stagecoach carries more than 2.5million bus passengers each day. The Group has been independently assessed as having the best value bus fares in Britain, and research also shows that Stagecoach has the highest passenger satisfaction of any major UK bus operator. Stagecoach is also a major UK rail operator, operating South West Trains services in and out of London Waterloo, as well as the East Midlands Trains franchise between the East Midlands and London. The Group is also a partner in
Sir Brian Souter said: “Stagecoach is a company with firm
Virgin Rail Group which operates the West Coast Mainline
Scottish roots, so it is great to welcome this international
between London and Glasgow.
event to Scotland. Transport plays a vital role in the
Arguably Stagecoach’s most innovative product is
economy of any country and at Stagecoach we fully
megabus.com which was launched in 2003 and now offers
understand the need to be innovative and creative to
low-cost inter-city coach services to around 15million
ensure our business can continue to grow successfully.”
60
Innovations from a small island
Tradition, Quality and Innovation: hallmarks of the Scottish Red Meat Industry By Jim McLaren, Chairman, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS)
O
ur industry has a fantastic and unique story to
the extensive grazing of cattle and sheep. Our forage-based
tell. Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and
livestock production systems are efficient generators of
Specially Selected Pork are produced by people
protein for the human food chain – 1kg of beef produced by
who take a pride in the successful blend of quality,
an upland suckler system requires an intake of only 0.92kg of
tradition and innovation which characterises the Scottish
protein which would be suitable for human consumption.
red meat industry.
Scotland’s permanent grassland also plays an important
The businesses which make up our industry contribute
role in carbon capture and the water our animals drink is
over £2 billion to Scotland’s economy and support around
not diverted from human use. Additionally, the biodiversity
50,000 jobs. Our livestock farms are largely family run with
of Scotland’s countryside is enhanced by livestock and in
stockmanship skills handed down through the generations
my view Scotland is on course to earn a place as a world-
and our brands are renowned globally for quality and flavour.
leader in sustainable farming and our farming system is part
Our Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb labels proudly display the much-sought after European PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status and Scotland’s quality assurance schemes are among the best in the world, covering the entire lifespan of animals and their journey through the production chain. High standards of welfare are a priority for our industry and to ensure this we work closely with the Scottish SPCA, Scotland’s animal welfare charity. Animal health is also of very high importance and opportunities are constantly sought to maintain and improve animal health.
of the solution to the climate challenge.
QMS – working for our industry Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) delivers a wide-ranging programme of activity in support of the organisation’s overall strategy of working to shape a sustainable and prospering Scottish red meat industry. QMS’s market development activities behind the industry’s three brands – Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork - are aimed at stimulating consumer demand and strengthening consumer awareness of the brands. Our marketing activity is focused on
Scottish livestock producers also have a great
delivering vibrant campaigns, developed following extensive
environmental story to tell. In fact they are, in my view, “the
market research and tailored to meet target audiences.
unsung heroes” of the food sustainability debate.
There is a real need to remain on the front foot in terms of
The fact is that grass and rough grazing cover 82% of
reacting to the latest consumer trends - for example the
Scotland’s agricultural area. This land is unsuitable for
latest market research statistics reveal that over 22% of
combinable crop, fruit or vegetable production but is ideal for
consumers are now shopping online for their groceries.
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Innovations from a small island
QMS marketing activities are increasingly incorporating
marking group or a monitor farm or a field demonstration
e.marketing opportunities and developing social media
day on a particular topic.
communication opportunities – please follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Opportunities to improve grassland and grazing management will also be a big focus for us going forward
QMS also undertakes a programme of activity behind its
and QMS has recently announced a tranche of new
export strategy. This is aimed at further developing the
projects to help farmers improve their grass utilisation.
opportunities for Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI
During the past decade there have been almost 40
in the wider European market and includes a focus on
monitor farms set up in Scotland and key to their success
Germany and the Nordic regions and, in the longer term,
has been the careful choice of farms and farmers. It is
the new affluent consumers in China and Russia.
important to select a farm which is typical farm of an area and is run by a respected farmer who is willing to be open about their business. There is a real thirst for information from farmers in general now and this has been very much in evidence at QMS’s Planning for Profit events this year. This initiative, supported by the Scottish Government’s Skills Development Scheme, QMS and NFU Scotland, is aimed at assisting farmers to ensure their businesses are well-placed to operate profitably in the face of reduced support payments.
Health and Education QMS employs a dietitian and nutritionist to undertake its In line with this strategy QMS recently appointed two new
health and education workload. They deliver year-round
export managers, Peter Toholt (Germany) in a collaboration
health and education activities which play an important part
agreement with Scottish Development International and
in improving the public’s understanding of livestock farming,
Jakob True (Nordic Countries). These appointments add
quality assurance and the importance of a healthy diet and
to the three existing part-time export managers for France,
red meat’s role in achieving that.
Benelx and Italy.
Industry development - improving efficiency
Information QMS’s Economics Services team focuses on ensuring businesses involved in the Scottish red
QMS’s industry development activities are aimed at improving
meat production chain benefit from the latest industry
the efficiency, profitability and sustainability of livestock
statistics. Regular market updates are published
farmers and others in the red meat chain in Scotland.
online and in the media and an annual industry
From a food security standpoint the challenge for our industry, as global demand for quality meat continues to
overview and benchmarking publications are also produced.
rise, is to produce more livestock more efficiently, using
“The Scottish Red Meat Industry Profile”gives a
fewer inputs and as an industry we are constantly striving to
comprehensive update of the size and scale of
raise the bar to improve efficiency and reduce waste from field to plate.
The activities we undertake range from major projects to practical hands-on workshops at locations throughout Scotland – in total around 180 events are funded by QMS each year. Our Industry Development work is delivered with a programme of knowledge transfer (KT) activity which offers farmers the opportunity to choose what will be of most benefit to their business – whether it be a local bench-
both the primary livestock sector and the red meat processing industry operating in Scotland. You’ll find a wealth of information at www.qmscotland. co.uk and please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Our very best wishes to all of you who are heading to Scotland to take part in the IFAJ Congress next month. We look forward to showing you some top livestock farms and, of course, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy our wonderful Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork! www.qmscotland.co.uk
Innovations from a small island
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Using innovation and collaboration to feed the world At Monsanto, we are helping to develop solutions to one of the greatest challenges we face – contributing to a healthy and nutritious diet for a population that is expected to grow from 7 billion today to nearly 10 billion by 2050. Meeting that challenge will require innovation and collaboration among diverse stakeholders working together in new ways. Monsanto is committed to being part of this critical work.
W
e currently provide seeds for fruits, vegetables
Growing enough food for all, using resources more
and staples like corn and soybeans that can
sustainably, overcoming the challenges nature throws at
help fight off disease, pests and drought. We
farmers and our food systems. We know it’s a tall order, and
develop crop protection products to help keep crops safe.
we all need to work together to achieve these solutions.
And we’re collecting and finding new ways to use data to
That’s why we partner and collaborate with farmers and
solve day-to-day problems on the farm.
organizations around the world, including Conservation
We’re nearly 22,000 dedicated employees with a focus
International, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the
on helping farmers produce nutritious, plentiful food in a
Howard G. Buffett Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative
sustainable and safe way. We think holistically about how
and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
food is grown so farmers have the tools they need to get
We invest more than $4 million a day in R&D towards
the most out of every acre and every harvest – and so
helping farmers solve problems and to improve nutrition and
consumers have access to safe, affordable food.
taste. Our R&D budget makes Monsanto one of the 100 largest corporate investors in R&D globally.
For the first time ever, a HOLL (High Oleic Low Linolenic) winter oilseed rape variety – V316OL – is topping the 2014 UK Recommended List trials run independently by the HGCA (www.HGCA.com) with a four year mean East & West region gross output of 5.79 t/ha. Added to V316OL’s premium-earning ability, the variety’s marked performance advantage over the best of today’s commodity ‘double low’ OSRs means significantly improved grower returns, stresses Monsanto UK oilseed rape breeder, Matthew Clarke, pictured here, who sees the rapid progress the business has made in HOLL development as a testament to the power of well-focused modern hybrid breeding.
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Innovations from a small island
Innovation in agriculture is the key to producing more, better and more affordable food with less in order to feed a growing population while still preserving scarce natural resources for future generations. Nowhere could this promise have greater impact than in the developing world. Most of the people who suffer from hunger and malnutrition today are farmers and their families. By helping to improve agriculture, we can help people and communities work towards more secure lives while using tools that can help reduce impacts on the environment. It’s important to know how crops are produced, why they are produced that way and how the world can produce enough to feed and clothe itself in the coming years while using resources more sustainably. We acknowledge we need to tell our story clearly and in ways more audiences beyond our customers can hear and understand. We welcome your feedback and critical-thinking about the issues central to the agriculture industry, including communicating about food and farming to all our fellow citizens. We are delighted to be involved in the IFAJ congress again this year. This congress really celebrates the diversity of our global industry, the people who drive it and the exchange of information and ideas that fuels so much farming innovation and inspiration. We are grateful to the organizers for putting together the great program and for the opportunity to learn and participate with you. Enjoy the congress!
Seminis, part of Monsanto’s vegetable seed business, produces BeneforteŽ broccoli seed. Now available in four North European countries and seven retail chains, Beneforte offers consumers an innovative twist on a staple vegetable. The genetics behind Beneforte were developed by UK scientists and licensed to Seminis who have bred it into elite broccoli varieties for commercial production. Read more at www.superbroccoli.info
The Scottish Association of Young Farmers (SAYFC) The Scottish Association of Young Farmers (SAYFC) brings together young people in rural Scotland who are interested in agricultural and the countryside, and has done since its creation in 1938. As the association has evolved, the main ethos has remained constant, to offer personal development opportunities for young people.
T
his unique organisation led by the members for the members, has encouraged individuals to think and speak for themselves. Membership is open to
anyone between 14 and 30 years of age who would like to be part of a social organisation and with more than 80 clubs across Scotland, over 3200 people are currently benefiting from SAYFC. Whether they are taking part in competitions such as stockjudging and art & crafts, or attending sports events, drama productions, farm/producer visits and dances to name but a few, the skills that members gain are vast and diverse. The association’s vision is to ensure the youth in rural Scotland have a dynamic and accessible organisation which will support them to become successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. As a member-led organisation the structure is set so that this strategic vision is directed by the members. This is important as it makes for an effective membership body whilst equipping them with the skills they will need to lead, make decisions, empower and be active citizens in a democracy.
understanding of what the industry requires to continue investing in the future of the agricultural sector. Increasing the recognition of the positive contribution to society made by Young Farmers is essential in supporting the aspirations of rural youth in Scotland. Events such as IFAJ are critical in ensuring SAYFC members are being herd, and the association is very honoured and privileged to be involved in the conference. Improving communication and networking across the youth and agricultural sectors is one of the key factors
For more information about SAYFC visit
in achieving this vision. By being involved in the IFAJ
www.sayfc.org or contact their Communications
conference the association will be able to speak with those
and Rural Affairs Manager, Rebecca Dawes via
who are at the forefront of promoting the industry. The
rebecca@sayfc.org or 0131 333 2445
event will provide SAYFC with the opportunity to make new contacts, develop existing partnerships and gain a better
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Innovations from a small island
What is the Huntly Hairst? Hairst is a Scots word meaning harvest time. Huntly Hairst is a celebration and a showcase for locally produced food, local cuisine and local culture which takes place on the first weekend in September each year. Delegate partners will be attending the Hairst on Saturday 6 September.
I
ts roots are in the Huntly Farmers Market set up in 2006
vegetables and flowers. Following this is a day-long series
to provide a low cost retail outlet for local small scale
of events which includes the Huntly Strong Man Challenge,
producers. The organisers of the market decided that
where contestants have to pull tractors, a rabbit skinning
once a year they would scale up the size of the market and
demonstration, a pigeon plucking contest, pony rides and
organise food related events around it.
many stalls displaying local crafts and in support of local organisations. There are also food and agriculture related trade stands and demonstrations and a parade of vintage tractors. The weekend heralds the start of what has evolved into a two-month long festival season with Huntly’s own book festival taking place and, at the end of October, there are Halloween events, the highlight of which is a march of people carrying lamps made from Neeps (Swedish Turnips) behind the Huntly Pipe Band who all wear grotesque masks and black capes.
The Hairst has now expanded to become a two-day event with Huntly town and the Market Square as the venue on the Saturday and Huntly Mart (where normally farmers buy and sell their livestock) is the venue on the Sunday.
There is a lot going on for a small town (around 4,000 inhabitants) but then it’s a lively place to be! We are particularly pleased this year to be able to welcome some international visitors from the IFAJ 2014 congress. north east Scotland tends to be overlooked a little in favour
The Saturday centres on the market in the town square
of the West and North West, however, we have whisky, fish,
where local producers’ offerings include beef, goat,
venison, Aberdeen Angus cattle, shortbread, stovies and
venison, cheese, fish, vegetables and chutneys and jams.
fine scenery to offer and we hope you enjoy it and tell the
There will be cookery demonstrations using produce from
rest of the world our secret.
the Farmers Market to make local dishes with a healthy twist, craft stalls, a coffee and buttery morning (butteries are a local delicacy, rather like a compact croissant), and baking demonstrations.
There is a Beer Festival in one of the local hotels where there is an opportunity to sample a wide range of artisan and micro-brewery beers from the area. A highlight of the day is the awarding of the World Stovies Championship Cup. Stovies are another local dish traditionally made from the surplus meat and potatoes left from Sunday lunch. Every family seems to have its own recipe which it regards as the only way to make the dish, consequently the judges have to be very Solomon–like! On the Sunday the focus switches to the Mart where the programme is started with a family Harvest Festival service with the Mart Ring being especially decorated with sheaves,
Innovations from a small island
67
We are Yara UK Li WHO YARA IS Yara is the Knowledge Leader in all aspects of plant nutrients - production and application - required by the major crops and farmers of the world. We are the world’s leading chemical company that converts energy, natural minerals and nitrogen from the air into essential products for farmers and industrial customers. Our main application is fertilizers, while industrial uses and environmental solutions are also important growth segments. We benefit from scale advantages, as the world’s largest producer of ammonia, nitrate and complex fertilizer, and with about 20% of global ammonia trade. Yara’s heritage is being a founder member of the fertilizer industry. Our business in the UK & ROI today is based in Grimsby, and when known as Fisons the Company first made fertilizer in the UK in 1843 and as Norsk Hydro in Norway in 1905. The Company today is headquartered in Oslo and has a worldwide presence with operations in more than 50 countries with sales to more than 120 countries. We are the only truly global company in our industry.
WHAT YARA DOES Yara has long been committed to delivering solutions for sustainable agriculture and the environment. Our fertilizers and crop nutrition programs help produce the food required for the growing world population. Our local sales and marketing units provide customer services and agronomical support, working with farmers worldwide to increase yields and improve crop quality and nutritional value. Our industrial products and solutions reduce emissions from industry and transport operations, improve air quality and support safe and efficient operations. Yara exercises stringent control over its part of the value chain using our Product Stewardship principles. Safety is always our top priority.
www.yara.co.uk
Food production in the last 40 years has increased by over 150 % - with fertilizer making a large contribution to this performance. Yara is a global leading company actively responding to future global challenges.
HOW YARA RESPONDS TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES One of the biggest global challenges is to produce enough food at lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels. The world population is expected to grow to over 9 billion people by 2050, and food production has to increase by 70 percent (FAO, 2009). This must be achieved on largely the same amount of land and with less water. Climate change, energy issues and degraded agricultural soils add to the challenge of sustaining food security. Optimum use of fertilizers is the key to achieving the necessary productivity improvements. Food security is a major concern in developing regions and high on the agenda in economically developed societies including the UK. This must be achieved whilst reducing the use of resources, emissions and environmental impact whilst addressing rural development. Yara strongly advocates the improvement of agricultural productivity and increased food production. Rather than fertilizing the soil, we target the plant itself. By increasing precision we aim to maximize uptake and minimize waste, including unwanted runoffs to the environment. We believe viable profitability and growth together with safeguarding the environment are business imperatives for future competitiveness and sustainability. Improving farm productivity and profitability is a key route to reducing hunger, malnourishment and eradicating extreme poverty. Part of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to which Yara is committed.
agronomy.uk@yara.com
imited
THERE ARE 7 BILLION PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TODAY By 2050 there will be 2 billion more
Within a global sustainability context, agriculture is prominent: The sector is the largest employer and represents the largest single land use in the world, puts natural ecosystems at risk and is the cause of about one quarter of global greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions which drives global warming and loss of biodiversity. Nearly half of the sector’s emissions come from land use change (LUC) which increasing output from existing farmland helps to avoid. This is known as land use efficiency. Agricultures main task is to achieve food security by satisfying growing demand in a sustainable way. Sustainability applied to agriculture implies that key resources such as soil, nutrients and water are not consumed indiscriminately but achieve resource use efficiency. Yara aims to be a global leader in the development of sustainable agriculture through our extensive agronomic knowledge. We provide knowledge-based solutions to improve agricultural productivity, on existing farmland crucial to avoid land use change. Trials indicate the potential to reduce the carbon footprint by 10–30 percent by increasing N use efficiency. Yara has developed a catalyst technology that has greatly reduced the GHG emissions from our plants - rated among the most energy efficient in the world - which produce lowcarbon fertilizers. In some markets these are offered with a Carbon Footprint Guarantee
HOW ARE WE GOING TO FEED THEM? Our fertilizers help farmers to enjoy better harvests with less wastage. We use modern processes and pure ingredients and we work in partnership with farmers all over the world.
AGRICULTURE ALREADY USES 70% OF THE EARTH’S FRESHWATER
To correctly evaluate any achievements in terms of GHG emissions, the carbon footprint of crop production should be measured by applying life-cycle assessment (LCA), a method pioneered by Yara scientists. Yara develops crop nutrition concepts, reduces the carbon footprint of fertilizers and hence of agriculture, and we provide advice to growers to apply the right product in the right amount at the right time.
IF WE NEED TO FEED 2 BILLION MORE PEOPLE WILL THERE BE ENOUGH WATER TO GROW MORE CROPS? Yara’s solutions increase crop production and make better use of water. Our specialists visit farmers to show them new techniques developed to improve resource use efficiency.
Bursary winners at IFAJ 2014 Three Scottish delegates are benefitting from bursaries to attend IFAJ 2014 - awarded by the Scottish farming industry.
T
wo individuals - Fiona Turnbull of Fruix Farm,
Jo Learmonth is married to Iain and has two children and is
Kinross and Jo Learmonth of Greens of Savoch,
Farm Data Manager at Auchmacoy Estate and has a BSc
Auchnagatt, near Ellon - are joint overall winners of
(Hons) in Agriculture and a MSc in Crop Protection. She
a new Food and Farming Journalism Bursary, developed
is also a partner on a 440 ha mixed farm near Ellon and
by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) in partnership with the
volunteers for the Royal Northern Countryside Initiative.
British Guild of Agricultural Journalists (BGAJ). Both impressed the judges with their applications for the bursary which aims to encourage people to consider a career in food and farming journalism. The other bursary winner is Gemma Mackenzie, Farming Editor at the Press & Journal, who is being funded to attend IFAJ 2014 by Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS). This award was given in memory of Joe Watson. Commenting on the award, RHASS Chairman, Allan Murray said: “The Society’s charity remit is the promotion of Scottish agriculture so it is only natural that RHASS would lend its support to the Congress. We are further delighted to award this bursary in Joe’s memory as he was instrumental in bringing the Congress to Scotland.” QMS winner, Fiona, is married to Andrew and has three children, is a sheep farmer with an HND in Agriculture and a postgraduate Diploma in Agribusiness, both from SAC Aberdeen. Her interest in writing about agriculture was kindled at a very young age includes a farming column in the local Kinross-shire Newsletter.
Fiona Turnbull of Fruix Farm, Kinross
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Innovations from a small island
The pair have recently completed the BGAJ/John Deere Journalism Training Award course and will also have the opportunity to take part in work experience with titles including The Press and Journal and The Courier. The launch of the new “Food and Farming Journalism Bursary” was timed to coincide with the World Congress of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) which is being held in early September this year. Jo and Fiona will take part in the IFAJ Congress in Aberdeenshire as part of their bursary award. Carol McLaren, Head of Communications with QMS, said: “One of the aims of this award was to encourage aspiring journalists, writers and bloggers to help the public better understand the commitment, passion and skills behind top quality Scottish food – such as Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork. “We were delighted with the exceptionally high standard of entries we received for the award and pleased that we have been able to give bursaries to both Fiona and Jo. We look forward to reading their articles in the press in the future!”
Jo Learmonth of Greens of Savoch, Auchnagatt, near Ellon
Aberdeen Energy Park
With a confident and inspiring vision to remain at the heart of one of the most robust and resilient economies in Europe, Aberdeen has a portfolio of major projects designed to achieve its ambition. Working in partnership, the city’s key agencies are focussed on delivering a 20 year master plan that will create an attractive environment to Invest, Live and Visit.
Driven by its increasingly strong and diverse energy economy the city is attracting massive capital investment. Emerging as the key investment location outside of London, Aberdeen has attracted over £200 million of office investment with a further 3 million sq. ft. in the pipeline.
Aberdeen’s strong and vibrant business community and economic strength offers an attractive location A major quayside redevelopment at the harbour, of choice for those with entrepreneurial spirit and a new peripheral route and an ambitious vision an innovative approach - positioning Aberdeen as to create Scotland’s first Airport City will secure the ideal destination to Invest, Live and Visit. Aberdeen’s global status for the future. The city’s economy is bucking the trend of other parts of the Log on to UK, often described as a microclimate; the city is aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk/invest very much open for both business and investment. or email aberdeenilv@aberdeencity.gov.uk
image: Farmers Guardian
Breeds apart The Congress has been supported by the societies of three beef breeds who are known all around the world
Aberdeen Angus
beef farmers looking to increase margins with retailers paying a premium as consumer demand increases. The Society, established in 1879, prides itself in having developed the Aberdeen-Angus breed to be world-beating by adopting an innovative approach to breeding and
Aberdeen-Angus is a world renowned brand and holds a premium position within the commercial beef farming market. The breed is traditionally reared on a natural, foraging, grass diet, and known for its easy management, placid nature and maternal attributes. The Aberdeen Angus Society says
image: Farmers Guardian
Aberdeen-Angus cattle are ideal for commercially astute
building a world renowned brand. The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society prides itself on leading the industry standards by protecting the breed. It is innately proud of its breed and the accuracy of the breed database and Society’s Herd Book which up until recently has been reliant on the honesty and integrity of its members. Recognising the increased demand from consumers who wish to accurately source the food that they’re eating, retailers and restaurants have called for a greater accuracy in tracing beef. So the Society has invested heavily in DNA technology where a DNA sample will be collected from every pedigree calf when being tagged at birth which will be stored and archived to be used to verify the sire if and when required. This market-leading project is currently in its infancy, but once fully operational, the Society will have a DNA sample of all working Aberdeen-Angus bulls - protecting the iconic brand. The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society has identified, developed and is now piloting the innovative scheme across its cattle, raising the bar in pedigree validation. www.aberdeen-angus.co.uk
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Innovations from a small island
Highland Cattle Society
cows continue to breed to ages in excess of eighteen years having borne fifteen calves. They are great mothers. The
The highland breed of cattle has a long and distinguished ancestry, not only in its homeland of western Scotland, but also in many far-flung parts of the world. One of Britain’s oldest, most distinctive, and best known breeds, with a long, thick, flowing coat of rich hair and majestic sweeping horns, the Highlander has remained largely unchanged over the centuries.
versatility of the Highlander led to a great upsurge in exports to the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Austria, Holland and South America. Highland Cattle can be found foraging 10,000 feet up in the Andes. Trademarked Guaranteed Pure Highland Beef comes wholly and exclusively from 100% pure pedigree Highland Cattle and commands a significant premium in specialist retail butchery outlets. www.highlandcattlesociety.com
Simmental British Simmental cattle, whose origins go back several hundred years to the Simmen valley in Switzerland, were first introduced into the UK in 1970. Since then the breed has grown to be the fourth largest beef breeds in the UK and leads the way on the promotion of health in beef breeding cattle. Simmental cattle are probably the most genuine “dual� purpose breed that can
Written Highland records go back to the 18th century and
be crossed successfully with any other breed and produce
the Highland Cattle Herd Book, first published in 1885, lists
cows which are extremely milky, fertile, docile and with
pedigrees since that time. The society continues to publish
great natural mothering instincts.
record of pedigrees and a fascinating insight to the historic breed. Animals can be traced back to their origins through the herd books. The books also have a following among collectors. New folds, as herds of Highlanders are known, are established every year both at home and abroad and in
image: Hatton Photography
hard copies of the herd book. This gives a permanent
recent years Highland Cattle societies have been started in Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Holland, Finland, France, Switzerland and Norway and there are also Highlanders in Luxembourg, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Poland, and the Faroe Islands. In the British Isles folds are found from the furthest south to the extreme north on many different types of ground varying from the slopes of the Sussex Downs, the fenlands of East Anglia to the windswept machars of the Outer Hebrides. But it is on the vast areas of poor mountain land with high annual rainfall and bitter winds that Highland Cattle thrive and breed where no other cattle could exist Making the most of poor forage, calving outside and seldom, if ever, housed they make a real economic contribution to hill and upland areas. The breed is exceptionally hardy with a natural and unique ability to convert poor grazing efficiently. They are remarkable for their longevity: many Highland
The breed also possesses tremendous terminal genetics, with excellent growth rates and daily live weight gains of in excess of 2kg/day achievable in an intensive beef finishing system (varied results between heifers, steers and bulls). With farmers seeking to run lower input systems and find ways of reducing costs, Simmental cattle are further increasing in popularity due to their ability to rear a calf on milk and not on concentrates. Coupled with high growth rates and carbon efficiencies, the breed offers a competitive edge and increased profitability in the present climate. www.britishsimmental.co.uk
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73
Our Congress Journey It all started on Friday 4 October, 2008. The Council of the British Guild is holding its regular management meeting at the Farmers Club, London, under the chairmanship of Joe Watson. By Adrian Bell and on behalf of Jane Craigie
On the agenda – to be addressed after the regular topics of membership applications, Harvest Lunch planning, Charitable Trust donations and professional development events - is an item marked ‘Scotland - IFAJ 2014’. Discussion ensues. Council members want to know what it will involve, how much it’s going to cost, who’s going to do the work, what theme the conference will take. Of the 14 Council members gathered around the table, only five have experience of Congress. Two of them, Don Gomery and David Steers, have in-depth IFAJ experience: Don as the long-serving British executive member and 1997 Congress Chairman, David as a former IFAJ President. A proposal is tabled: Joe should chair a sub-committee, which is to be tasked with a feasibility study on hosting Congress, before reporting back to Council. Gradually a plan comes together. Aberdeen is put forward as the congress city: it has good transport links, plenty of hotels and, most importantly, is surrounded by Scotland’s most productive farming region. Suggested topics include whisky; arable; the red meat sector; fresh produce; energy; and fruit. And so begins six years of planning for the 2014 Scottish Congress.
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Innovations from a small island
Also at that meeting are two new members of Council: Adrian Bell and Jane Craigie. Neither knows it, but in the years to come both are to follow in Joe’s footsteps – first as Guild Chairmen, and then collaborating in organising Congress itself. Adrian recounts the tale.
L
et’s get some things straight. Organising a Congress
support to make the Congress a success both for the
is not for the faint-hearted. New Zealand and
British Guild and for them. All three of our Principals are
Germany organising committees: if you haven’t yet
long-term, committed BGAJ sponsors – having them on-
realised this, you will shortly. In the months ahead, you’ll
board for the Congress gave us the confidence and support
face frustration, elation, disappointment, pleasure, despair
we needed, while providing security and enthusiasm
and delight, in roughly equal measures.
for our key sponsors and supporters to commit to their
But you’ll carry on, because one of the things about hosting a Congress is not the pleasure you derive from it, but your
involvement. It meant we were ready to move the planning and preparation to the next level.
commitment to your friends and colleagues in IFAJ, and
But like a computer game, each level becomes
your pride in being able to showcase your home country’s
progressively harder, contains more hazards and allows
agricultural scene to the rest of the world.
fewer errors to be made. I’m unsure quite when we reached
For the British Guild, the intention has always been to deliver ‘a Congress to remember’. But let me share
the point of no return, but realistically having committed, it wasn’t something that ever crossed our minds.
something with you all; I’m a recent ‘Congress convert’. My
What I don’t think either of us realised was the degree
first experience was the 2011 Canadian Congress. I’m not
to which planning this event would take over our lives,
ashamed to admit I attended that one only because of my
particularly professionally; we’re both self-employed. For
role as British Guild Chairman; I was expected to be there.
much of the last eighteen months, we’ve been juggling
The long-standing perception of Congress in Britain had predominantly been of an event one attended towards the end of your career – a gradual retreat into retirement enlivened by
client work (which pays us) with Congress work (which doesn’t). That’s been tricky at best, and downright perilous at worst.
an annual reminder of what you used to do. My apprehension
Skills, too. Heading up a Congress organising committee
was heightened when I found out I would be the only British
not only requires stamina and vision, it also demands
attendee, Joe having been advised not to travel following
empathy, personnel proficiency, diplomacy, exemplary time
injuries received in a car accident that same summer.
management and most of all, a healthy and resilient sense
But I couldn’t have been more surprised, nor more delighted, to find out what Congress was really about, nor that for as
of humour. That last point is essential – and sometimes it seems like those moments don’t come often enough!
long as I’m involved in agricultural communications, and
But humour was far from our minds in March 2014, although
earning my livelihood through it, I never again want to miss
it remains one moment we’ll always remember. Tragic and
another Congress. As if the extraordinary and invaluable
unexpected news hit us for six. Joe Watson’s sudden death,
insight it provides into the host country’s food and farming
at the age of 43, sent a bowling ball through our planning,
isn’t enough, the friends, contacts and knowledge collected
expectations and specifically our morale. The loss of the
is exceptional. It’s work, yes – but this is work with enjoyment
‘father’ of the IFAJ 2014 Congress was catastrophic enough,
built-in and finely-tuned.
but the two of us had also each lost someone we were
So the Canadian team probably doesn’t realise the significance of their Congress in contributing to the progress of ours – and Jane experienced a similar ‘Congress evangelism’ at her first Congress in Sweden.
privileged to count as a colleague and fortunate enough to hold as a friend. And from the Congress point of view, what he didn’t know about Scottish agriculture, and the movers and shakers within it, simply wasn’t worth knowing. Equally, his knowledge of IFAJ matters was always there to call upon.
Not until early 2012 was the theme of ‘Innovations from a
It’s no exaggeration to say that since March, the loss of the
Small Island’ agreed and adopted. Joe’s valued knowledge
‘Big Man’ has left an indelible mark upon this Congress, and
of who farmed where – which seemed encyclopaedic at
a correspondingly big hole in the committee, the Guild and
times – provided the team with the structure, content and
the IFAJ community.
suitable hosts for our five Innovation Themes, all designed to provide delegates with not just a snapshot of Scottish agriculture, but an in-depth understanding of the sectors, their importance within the industry and the industry’s massive contribution to the local and regional economy. With those in place, the ball was well and truly rolling, and has been largely unstoppable ever since. Our first sponsors also came aboard in 2012, with each of the Principals – Massey Ferguson, Perkins and Waitrose –
Thus this Congress is Joe’s legacy, not ours. We’ve put all we can into making it a success, but it’s you, the delegates, who will really ensure that happens, and that Joe’s vision of bringing Congress to his beloved native north-east Scotland will live long in the memories of all who came to the ‘Small Island’ in 2014.
committing £30,000 in financial support and further in-kind
Innovations from a small island
75
Public Relation providers These five agencies actively service the UK agri-food sector and beyond. All have supported the Congress, at no charge, to play their part in telling our country’s food and farming story. I cannot thank them enough for their time and their professionalism.” Jane Craigie, Chairman, British Guild of Agricultural Journalists.
Royalty free
Agribusiness Communications Ltd (ABC)
Pinstone Communications Pinstone Communications is a
Agribusiness
full service agricultural
Communications Ltd (ABC) is an established full service market communications consultancy working primarily within the
PR and marketing consultancy working specifically with businesses and organisations operating within the agriculture and land
UK. Established for close to 20 years, our team of five client
based industries.
directors enjoys strong relationships with the UK farming
We recognised the Congress as a fantastic opportunity for
publications and good networks within the agri-sector
UK agriculture to showcase the breadth and diversity of the
industry as a whole. Our strength is editorial writing on
enterprises it represents and were keen to get involved.
behalf of a number of the leading agribusinesses across animal health, agrochemicals, seeds, feed, animal breeding and machinery.
The exposure it offers to our industry with an international audience is unparalleled and can only enhance UK agriculture’s standing on the global platform. It is a chance
As members and supporters of the British Guild of
for us to welcome – and impress – key journalists and
Agricultural Journalists we are in tune with the principles
reporters from all over the world.
and objectives of the IFAJ. Our support for the 2014 IFAJ congress stems primarily from our commitment to the BGAJ but is also due to our recognition of this opportunity to showcase all that is good about British agriculture. We’d like to add our thanks to the sponsors and organisers and wish every delegate a memorable, stimulating and thoroughly enjoyable time in Great Britain. Matt Mellor www.agricomm.co.uk
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Innovations from a small island
For us, working with fellow PR companies within the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists was an exciting joint venture and we are looking forward to the culmination of all of the hard work that has gone into making this event happen – special mentions to Jane Craigie and Adrian Bell. Catherine Linch, Managing Director www.pinstone.co.uk
O’Leary PR
The Ad Plain (TAP)
It was important to us at O’Leary PR
Agriculture is without doubt one of the most critical and
that we play our part, however small, in
challenging sectors in today’s world. The years ahead will
the success of IFAJ 2014. The theme,
contain plenty of debate, frustrations and problems. Most
innovations from a small island, captured
of which will be resolved by the amazing ingenuity that there
our imagination and the opportunity
is around the world. TAP is delighted to be supporting this
to involve our client RHASS’ inaugural
year’s UK based congress which is helping to pull together
event food event, Eat Drink Discover Scotland, as a post congress event was an added bonus.
talent from around the globe. The Ad Plain (TAP) is a full service advertising and
Working in partnership with other PR agencies has been
communications agency founded in 2002. Specialising
really great – it is an innovation approach and the pooling
in Agriculture and other related sectors, TAP has a
of resources, skills and contacts has enabled the IFAJ2014
global client base including some of the largest names in
story be broadcast far and wide.
Agriculture. Services range from digital platform and web
For our agency, to be invited to be part of IFAJ2014 is an indication of our reputation in the agri-business sector in
based solutions to design for print, media management and contract publishing.
Scotland. It is heartening to contribute to an industry that
Duncan Murray-Smith, Managing Director
has allowed our agency to grow and flourish.
www.theadplain.com
We very much look forward to seeing delegates reactions as they tour the best the UK, particularly Scotland, has to offer – it will make us very proud to be part of this industry.
Ware Anthony Rust (WAR)
Judith O’Leary, Director
Ware Anthony Rust (WAR)
www.olearypr.co.uk
is an integrated marketing agency with a wide range of clients and includes a team dedicated to the food, farming and rural affairs sectors. This
RDP
includes some long-serving members of the British Guild of RDP is a leading full service advertising and marketing agency operating in the Agriculture and Rural sector. With a team of 10 specialist marketers we provide in-depth involvement from initial research
to delivery; including an intelligent, thoughtful approach to the issues of creating and delivering a stronger, more focused Communications strategy and program. Delivering numerous integrated and singular campaigns, RDP know their clients audience and how to connect, empathise and speak directly to them. Our strength comes from a talented and creative team, all with different backgrounds and skill sets ensuring each campaign is carefully considered, with the right team appointed to see the project through. “We are delighted to be supporting the BGAJ in their successful bid to hold the IFAJ Congress in Britain this year
Agricultural Journalists. Once we learnt that the IFAJ Congress was coming to Britain’s shores, we wanted to play our part in helping create a great success on our ‘small island’ and tell the story of innovation that is British food and farming. Our client base includes leading manufacturers of crop protection products, seeds and animal health products; we represent Britain’s largest producer and supplier of field vegetables. We also act for a number of trade bodies in the agricultural and animal health supply industries providing strategic advice along with training and support on reputation management. We have chosen to support and help promote the preCongress events which particularly relates to our expertise and geographic location.
and look forward to working with guild members and the
Peter Crowe, Rebecca Dawson, Geoff Dodgson
press in showcasing all that is great in British agriculture.”
www.war.uk.com
Angus Chalmers, Managing Director www.rdp.co.uk @RDPagency
www.ifaj2014.com @ifaj2014 IFAJ2014
Innovations from a small island
77
Crown Estate funded bike trails help build a strong local community Strong local partnerships and a commitment to sustainability are ensuring the long-term commercial viability of Glenlivet Estate by creating an enabling environment for local businesses.
The on-site café sources food and drink from the surrounding area
A
small community in north east Scotland is reaping
maintenance partner in Grantown-on-Spey. The cafe is also
the benefits of investment in a new visitor centre
central to a growing supply chain, with a focus on local
and mountain bike trails, that’s seen thousands of
suppliers for its baking, as well as provision of ingredients
tourists from across the UK and Europe visit the area in the last nine months.
such as venison, bacon and eggs. Indeed, Scott Armstrong, VisitScotland Regional Director,
BikeGlenlivet , which is managed by The Crown Estate as
recently said, “What is fantastic is that the local visitor
part of its Glenlivet Estate, opened in November last year.
economy is also benefiting from the popularity of this Crown
More than 10,000 visitors have since tried out the trails, a
Estate-led new venture, with hoteliers in the Glenlivet area
much higher number than first envisaged. The Crown Estate
reporting a busier than usual winter.”
now anticipates that annual visitor numbers will be between 12,000–14,000 and the popularity of the trails – which made MBUK magazine’s list of Britain’s 50 best trails in June – has spurred a number of benefits to related businesses. The Crown Estate, which manages the 24,300 ha estate, recently commissioned Oban-based Imani Development to
The popularity of the trails and benefits to the local community can be attributed to how the Crown Estate builds strong local partnerships that create an enabling environment for small businesses while conserving the rich natural and cultural heritage.
examine how the new trails have impacted upon Tomintoul
Alan Laidlaw, The Crown Estate’s Rural Portfolio Manager
and the wider region. The results showed that the trails have
said: “By promoting the long-term sustainability and
already brought more business to Tomintoul than expected,
commercial viability of the Glenlivet Estate, the resilience
which has had a positive knock-on for the area’s economy.
and cohesion of the community is enhanced. The success
Five jobs, three full time and two part-time, have been created at the Coffee Still cafe which acts as the ‘hub’ for cyclists. Additionally one young person has also been
of the BikeGlenlivet trails and visitor centre that developed the tourism offer in Moray illustrates the wider benefits of this approach.”
trained and is employed to run the associated bike hire for
Tomintoul has a population of around 360 people and the
the trails, based at the cafe. Extra bikes have also been
local economy relies heavily on tourism. The Crown Estate
brought in to meet demand, benefiting the supply and
believes the trails are providing an additional attraction
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Innovations from a small island
for visitors to the wider Cairngorms area and this is reflected in longer dwell times and increased demand for accommodation. There is strong potential for Glenlivet to gain a reputation as a cycling hub, which has been helped by events such as the Rock and Road Bike Festival, organised by the Tomintoul & Glenlivet Development Trust and supported by The Crown Estate. This is also expected to result in increased economic activity while attracting a wider audience by offering live music and locally sourced catering. There are also opportunities for local businesses to provide package trips by linking up accommodation and other leisure opportunities. Glenlivet Estate Countryside Manager, Vicky Hilton, believes the addition of the trails, designed by Aviemore-based Paul Masson, has put Glenlivet on the map.
Glenlivet Glenlivet exhibits some of the finest landscapes of the Scottish Highlands; clear rushing burns and rivers, sheltered straths, glens and woods, wide expanses of high heather-covered hills. The 24,300 hectare (60,000 acre) estate includes: 35 farm tenancies
She said: “BikeGlenlivet provides social and recreational
3,500 hectares (8,650 acres) of commercial forestry,
opportunities for residents of all ages. Families are making the
residential and commercial lets
most of it, with one family visiting several times a week, and
Approximately 1000 people live in Tomintoul and Glenlivet
older residents use the café as a meeting place. The facility may help keep people in the area, particularly with initiatives underway to encourage younger riders onto the trails.”
Mountain Bike trails 10,000 people have tried the trails since they opened
The Glenlivet Estate is already a popular location for
Awarded four stars by VisitScotland
outdoor sports enthusiasts and visitors, attracting around 30,000 visitors a year. People come from across the UK
MBUK magazine’s list of Britain’s 50 best trails
and beyond to enjoy an unrivalled visitor experience with a
95 % of the £60,000 capital investment at BikeGlenlivet went to local business
variety of activities including walking, running and wildlife as well as whisky tasting at local distilleries.
The Crown Estate
Economic Benefits
The Crown Estate manages a highly diverse £9.9 billion property portfolio across the UK.
The Crown Estate invested £375,000 in the project, with
All revenue profit is paid to UK Government to support
a further £225,000 coming from the European Regional
public services and finances
Development Fund, Moray Council and the Cairngorm National Park Authority.
The Crown Estate has offices in London, Edinburgh, Glenlivet and Lockerbie and works with Scottish
BikeGlenlivet has created jobs and indirect opportunities for businesses. Enterprises are starting to offer package
Government, Scottish Parliament, local authorities,
holidays, skills tuition and guiding.
communities and businesses in sectors such as offshore renewables, tourism and aquaculture.
The onsite café serves produce from local farms, and
In Scotland, The Crown Estate comprises:
hoteliers reported increased numbers over the winter of 2013/14.
management of the seabed out to the 12 nautical
Benefits include:
miles and the rights to renewable energy on the UK
Five jobs created at the café (three full-time, two parttime); another three part-time expected during peak season. One young person trained and employed in bike hire. Extra bikes brought in to meet demand, benefiting the supply and maintenance partner in Grantown-on-Spey. Local supply chains established including locally sourced venison, bacon and eggs. A second local baker has been contracted to meet growing demand at the café.
– The Energy and Infrastructure portfolio, including
continental shelf.
– The Rural and Coastal portfolio
– approximately half the foreshore where we manage around
– 42,000 hectares including the Glenlivet, Fochabers,
850 aquaculture sites and we license 5000 moorings Applegirth and Whitehill estates, with agricultural tenancies, residential properties and forestry.
The urban estate which includes retail property in Edinburgh.
Innovations from a small island
79
image: visit scotland
Scottish Tourism: a multi-billion pound industry
Visit Scotland describe a worldclass tourist destination
W
orth £11 billion to Scotland’s economy, tourism in Scotland is more than just a holiday experience. The benefits of the industry are
widespread touching every corner of the nation, creating jobs, sustaining communities and providing a ‘shop window’ for business activity. In 2013, overseas visits to Scotland increased by 9.8%, which was accompanied` by a 19.9% increase in spend by international visitors. The growth in international markets in both visits and expenditure demonstrates an increasing confidence within global markets and points to the success of Visit Scotland’s partnership with Disney surrounding the movie, “Brave”, international marketing campaigns such as Meet the Scots and improved air connectivity following success in attracting more direct flights to Scottish airports. 2013 was also the Year of Natural Scotland which saw growth in the domestic leisure market, with a 12% increase in the number of Britons enjoying rural and coastal trips to Scotland. A booming 2013 set Scotland up for an action-packed
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Innovations from a small island
2014, with hundreds of thousands of people from the UK and overseas embracing the country’s second year of Homecoming with record-breaking attendances recorded for many of the events within the first six months of 2014. Latest attendance reports reveal that over 890,000 people have attended 34 funded events between January and May with many more enjoying the hundreds of Partner events taking place in the same period. Established events with a Homecoming feel including Celtic Connections, Electric Glen, and the Glasgow Film Festival welcomed their biggest crowds in history with 110,176, 27,008, and 41,806 visitors respectively. Brand new events such as the John Muir Festival and ‘Home’ - the International launch of the Kelpies were also success stories with 38,500 discovering more about the great Scottish naturalist and over 9,000 people experiencing the opening of Andy Scott’s horse head sculptures. Homecoming’s special Whisky Month in May saw over 78,439 people from over 31 different countries embracing Scotland’s national spirit at events such as Spirit of Speyside, Whisky Stramash, Glasgow Whisky Festival, World Whisky Day and Spirit of Stirling.
proved a sell-out success in June with a 20,000 capacity crowd attending the large scale festival over two days.
2014 is Scotland’s second year of Homecoming with the first taking place in 2009. Launched in January 2014, the programme includes a record 970 partner and funded events across the country.
image: visit scotland
Homecoming signature event Bannockburn Live also
Key events still to come this year include Highland Homecoming (September and October), the Forth Bridges Festival (September), Ryder Cup Gala Concert (September), Royal National MOD (October) and the MTV Europe Music Awards (November). The summer of 2014 saw Scotland host its third Commonwealth Games, and a first for Glasgow as host city. The international sporting event sold 1.2 million tickets, and the special ‘live zones’ of the city welcomed some half a million visitors. The Games also gave Glasgow its ‘busiest weekend ever’, on July 26 and 27 which drew 700,000 spectators and saw many of the city’s restaurants claiming it was their biggest weekend on record. The incredible successes of the Games for Glasgow and for Scotland are a promising indication that September’s Ryder Cup, hosted in Gleneagles, will see a similar influx of visitors and trade, and a further platform for Scotland to sell itself on the world’s stage.
September also sees the Ryder Cup come to the famous Gleneagles course
The Framework, which is supported by Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), and Team Scotland agencies, identifies projects that are due to start or be completed over the next three years covering all aspects of the visitor experience including digital, transport, accommodation, nature, heritage, towns and cities, business tourism and events. The primary purpose of the Framework is to highlight current investment and opportunities for further inward investment and growth in the visitor economy. The Tourism Development Framework for Scotland highlights that £8.4 billion is currently invested in Scotland’s tourism future, underlining the
It’s not just events which are fuelling tourism in Scotland, with
confidence that exists within the industry. This confidence
iconic attractions drawing in millions of visitors year after year.
is borne out by figures showing that the number of overseas
In its 2013 Visitor Trends Report, the Association of Scottish
tourists has increased by 13 per cent to 2.5 million in the
Visitor Attractions (ASVA) revealed that over 32 million visits
year to March 2014, and spending by overseas tourists
were made to visitor attractions across Scotland in 2013, a
by 14 per cent to £1.6 billion in the same period, with the
rise of over 225,000 (or 0.6%) on 2012 figures.
domestic tourism market also performing strongly.
The National Museum of Scotland, in Edinburgh, was the UK’s
The combination of the increasing confidence present in
most popular visited free attraction outside London in 2013,
the tourism industry with the world class events of 2014 are
having welcomed 1,768,090 visitors, while Edinburgh Castle
the perfect springboard for economic success in 2015 and
was the most popular paid-for attraction outside London with
beyond. Next year will see Scotland host nine world class
1,420,027 visitors, following an increase of 15%.
events including The Turner Prize, the World Gymnastics
Other Scottish attractions in the UK top 50 are the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Scottish National Gallery, Riverside Museum, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and the National War Museum. The successes of 2013 and 2014 signpost a positive outlook for tourism in Scotland, as does the National Tourism Development Framework, a joint initiative between VisitScotland and Scottish local authorities. The Framework supports the delivery of the “Tourism Scotland 2020” strategy which was launched in 2013 and focuses on a serious of actions to help promote improvements in the visitor experience.
Championships and the Women’s British Open, as well as developments throughout the country such as the opening of the V&A Museum of Design in Dundee, the construction of the Borders Railway and the Buchanan Quarter investment in Glasgow. Tourism is the heartbeat of the Scottish economy and with so much investment and activity taking place over the next decade, this significant industry shows no signs of slowing. For more information on Scottish tourism including research, statistics and advice, visit www.visitscotland.org
Innovations from a small island
81
Finzean Estate: the Fair Place Host farmer Andrew Farquharson describes his family’s estate. By Jane Craigie (first appeared in the Press & Journal)
S
itting in Finzean Estate’s Tearoom looking out over
leasing community woods and pathways as a local amenity.
the valley, you fully understand why the Gaelic for it
The estate’s award-winning Farm Shop and Tearoom also
is ‘the fair place’, and why so many of the residents
employs people from the valley.
remain to trace their ancestry back to this land and this timeless place.
During the stalking and fishing seasons Finzean’s hills and river beats on the Feugh and Dee are opened up to paying
Nestled in the Grampian hills, eight miles from Banchory,
guests, as well as those who live and work on the estate.
Finzean Estate has been in the Farquharson family since
These managed, wild areas are home to over 120 species
1580. Throughout its history, the family have always had
of birds and many other insects and invertebrates.
an active involvement in the running of the land, which
Produce from its farms and hills supply the Farm Shop and Tearoom - and much of the other foods and gifts sold are sourced from suppliers within a 30 mile radius of its doors.
totals 4,000 hectares of farmland, hill and woodland, 40 properties - including holiday lets - and seven very longterm tenanted farms. In the 400 plus intervening years, the estate has had to evolve and modernise to make sure that it remains financially viable. Finzean is now run as a partnership
For an off-the-beaten track location, the 200 plus
consisting of two brothers Donald and Andrew
customers a day is impressive, but unsurprising given the
Farquharson. Andrew who works on and manages the
family’s foresight to include a Post Office counter, daily
Estate, says that, common to many Scottish estates, the
newspapers and have opening hours of 9am-5pm, seven
fortunes of the family have ebbed and flowed over the
days a week. It employs 24 local people.
centuries but, from the mid nineteenth century the lairds contributed greatly to the prosperity and community spirit of the valley.
However, according to Catriona, Andrew’s sister-in-law, it’s the little extras which keep people coming back - like the daily draw of homemade bread, the tasty and inexpensive
This sense of community is something that still drives the
menu and the staff’s quest to keep the doors open,
Finzean valley, as well as many of the estate decisions.
whatever the weather.
On their land the Farquharsons have established sheltered housing, low cost housing sites for young people and
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Innovations from a small island
The simplicity of the food served and sold is based on seasonal and local.
The firm menu favourites are Andrew and Donald’s Mum, Alison’s, Victoria sponge, of which around 3,000 slices are sold a year. “Our other top sellers are the Finzean Quiche of the day, homemade Finzean Beef or Venison burger served in a homemade roll, and a simple bowl of soup with a sandwich.” Service and food has won them a number of awards. “We are a VisitScotland 4 star shop and VisitScotland Taste our Best Quality Assured, we won the Trend Magazine Award for fine dining in the tea room category in 2010 and 2012 and were one the last three national finalists in the ‘Taste of Scotland’ category at the Scottish Thistle Awards in 2007. In addition, we were voted a Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2013 winner.” Looking ahead to the estate’s future, Andrew Farquharson says that they have three core philosophies driving their decisions and management - the local community, managing and maintaining the Scottish countryside and championing Scottish food and tourism. “We are lucky to live in a particularly active community where the residents feel very much part of Finzean and that is what makes this part of Deeside so special. Key to “We sell venison shot on Peter Hill and butchered on the
our future is that we have a duty to keep our countryside
estate, rabbit and game birds – mostly pheasants, but also
beautiful and allow access for others to enjoy it, which
pigeon, duck and grouse,” says Catriona Farquharson. “The
is something we take very seriously and will preserve for
prime cuts of venison always sell first – the loin and fillet -
generations to come.”
but the haunch and mince are also popular. Rabbits are prepared whole but skinned and the birds are all sold oven ready, whole or breasted.”
Finzean Estate, Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, AB31 6PA. Tel: 01330 850 710. Email: andrew@ finzean.com
Home-produced beef from the home estate’s 165-cow suckler herd is slaughtered in Inverurie and sold through the shop and Tearoom. The herd is predominantly grass and barley-fed Simmental, Limousin or Aberdeen Angus. Catriona adds that the rest of their produce is sourced from small scale, mostly rural producers, who have the “same principles and ethos as us”. These include artisan cheesemakers, fruit and vegetable growers, a local brewery and pork from a local farmer. “We also produce our own Finzean Estate venison, beef, chutneys and preserves, home baked bread and cakes as well as a range of artisan ready meals. We also sell various deli products, plus a range of books many by local authors and a small range of gifts, cards and paintings.” Andrew’s wife, Kate, partners Catriona in the Farm Shop and Tea Room. She explains that the menu in the Tearoom is little changed since it was opened at Easter 2006. “At the heart of the menu we use our own home reared beef, wild venison and game, creating proper homemade, tasty meals. We cook breakfasts to-order and serve traditional afternoon teas from 3.30pm.”
Innovations from a small island
83
Social media: helping to fill a gap Twitter is now a key platform for the agricultural community to connect, build campaigns, and debate. One group helping to develop this is AgriChatUK, a weekly Twitter-based farming discussion. One of its co-founders, Jez Fredenburgh, tells us what it’s all about. As with most volunteer-led
AgriChatUK and other Twitter-based farming groups, of
initiatives, AgriChatUK was
which there are many, have helped fill a need beyond what
born out of the simple desire
they set out to do. Often with the support of the farming
to create something useful
press, charities and farming unions, they have helped amplify
for a community. It began on
farmers’ voices, brought them closer to decision makers and
Twitter, between four strangers who saw a lack of space
pushed taboo subjects like mental health into the open.
for farmers to connect and discuss the challenges they and
Perhaps most importantly though, they have created new
their industry faced.
friendships and online communities, tackled rural isolation
With big issues like climate change, water shortages,
and helped farmers feel less alone in a sometimes stressful
bovine TB, land prices, supermarket dealings, and CAP
and lonely job.
reform, where could geographically isolated and busy
AgriChatUK Key Facts:
farmers go to share their worries, ideas and experiences? Twitter - free, accessible and instant - provided the perfect meeting place. After a tentative first discussion on water security during the UK drought of March 2012, AgriChatUK began to gain pace. Since then it has hosted a farming-based chat every Thursday night using the hashtag #AgriChatUK, plus ‘emergency’ chats on urgent issues, all amounting to more than 120 discussions. The chats have grown from less than 30 participants, all farmers, to around 100 ‘AgriChatUK-ers’ taking part during each two-hour discussion, with the busiest involving between 130 and 260 people.
First chat (March 2012) was on water security Since run a chat every Thursday night between 8-10pm apart from Christmas, plus ‘emergency’ chats, totalling more than 120 chats AgriChatUK has 12,000+ followers and is 100% volunteer-run The group was inspired by the American twitter-based farming discussion group ‘AgChat’ Each ‘chat’ is structured around 8 questions relating to a different topic each week, using the hashtag #AgriChatUK Biggest chat so far, ‘AgrichatWorld’, was a collaboration between seven food/ farming twitter groups and involved
Farmers and growers have steadily been joined by farming
632 participants, all sending 3,664 tweets and reaching
unions, certification bodies, journalists, government
8m timeline deliveries
departments, politicians, students, farming charities, landbased colleges and agricultural businesses. Even those with large networks or marketing budgets have come to the group to connect, canvass opinion and get a snapshot of ‘what farmers really think’. Multinationals like McDonald’s asked to take part, agricultural teams in several UK supermarkets are known to use it, and government bodies have sought consultation evidence through it. However, at its core its purpose has always been to connect farmers with each other. Perhaps the best example of this was ‘AgriChatWorld’, a global chat collaboration between food and farming Twitter groups in seven countries, with AgriChatUK acting as the ‘host’. It attracted more than 600 participants (mostly farmers) across eleven countries, all keen to share their differences and similarities.
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Innovations from a small island
Top five UK-based chats so far (participant numbers in brackets): UK floods (266), women in farming (189), decertification and organic agriculture (162), horsemeat scandal (158), giving your farming a career lift (151), young people in farming (140), agri-technology (138), social media and agricultural businesses (136) First chat to break 100 participants- rural mental health (130 participants), jumping from 66 the week before. The team consists of four co-founders plus five additional team members To take part, search #AgriChatUK on Twitter on a Thursday night between 8-10pm BST, and get involved by tweeting with the hashtag #AgriChatUK
NFU Mutual: protecting the UK’s farmers for over a century NFU Mutual is the UK’s leading rural insurer, providing cover for almost three quarters of the UK’s farmers together with many rural businesses and homes. Based in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, the
accident and the long-term consequences it can have on
company provides a wide range of products, including
farming families.
general insurance, life, pensions, investments and risk management services. These products and services are
Drive it Home
delivered through a network of over 300 local offices, which
The NFU Mutual works closely with the National Federation
are also the NFU’s local point of contact with its members,
of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) to promote safety on
as well as through a direct sales and service centre.
country roads. It concerns us greatly that rural youngsters
Charitable Trust The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust continues its work in supporting numerous worthwhile causes, particularly in agricultural and rural development, with donations totalling £333,0000 in 2013. The Trust’s aim is to make a difference to the rural community, especially in the areas of education and poverty relief.
are 37 per cent more likely to be in a crash than their urban counterparts. Under the banner of the ‘Drive it home: Saving Lives on Rural Roads’ campaign, we have helped young drivers to sharpen their driving skills at airfields across the country to teach young drivers how to cope with wet and slippery road conditions.
Supporting agricultural students Launched by NFU Mutual to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2010, the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust’s ‘Centenary Award’ gives annual bursaries to pay 75% of course fees for selected postgraduate students in agriculture with a postgraduate scheme introduced in 2013.
Farm Safety Rising concern over the continuing high level of fatal and life-changing injury accidents on farms has prompted NFU Mutual to set up a charitable foundation to help farmers work safely. NFU Mutual’s board has pledged to provide financial support for the Farm Safety Foundation – including a £250,000 donation for its first year. The foundation will
Farming leaders sign the “Yellow Wellies” to commit support to the farm safety campaign
work closely with farmers, the NFU and a range of farming
Fighting Rural Crime
organisations to help reduce the toll of fatal and serious
Our efforts to help farmers improve security and beat rural
injury accidents which have made farming the most
crime continued in 2013. We provide financial support to
dangerous occupation in the UK.
tackle tractor theft and work closely with police forces to
For the next two years, the foundation is targeting its message on young farmers and student through a
help farmers and country people make their property secure and bring thieves to justice.
campaign called “Yellow Wellies” with a hard-hitting slogan
Our annual Country Crime Fighter Awards, now in their third
“Who would fill your boots?” to focus attention on the need
year, proved popular in giving recognition where it is due to
to improve farming’s poor safety record.
individuals and groups who are helping rural communities
“Yellow Wellies” is intended to change attitudes to farm safety by highlighting the devastating effects of a farm
beat crime. www.nfumutual.co.uk
Innovations from a small island
85
Farmers Guardian: 170 years of farming service By Ben Briggs, News and Business Editor, Farmers Guardian
In February Farmers Guardian celebrated an astonishing 170 years in publishing since its birth in 1844.
The first paper ran to 32 columns across just four pages and
FG began life as the Preston Guardian on February 10,
useful handle on the value of what they were producing.
1844. In its earlier decades the regional newspaper began continually increasing its agricultural content, having made a firm commitment in the very first edition to ‘an earnest dedication to the prosperity of agriculture’ and the ‘perfect freedom of trade and industry’.
cost four and a half pence (just under 2p) and there was a Saturday morning ‘markets edition’ detailing prices from the area’s mainly retail markets. This gave farmers and growers a
By 1958 farming had assumed such an important part of the Preston Guardian the decision was made to evolve an all-farming edition – Farmers Guardian – which first came out on May 30. That ultimately signalled the end for the The Preston Guardian as a title – albeit not immediately in
The success of the newspaper can be attested by a remark
the minds of some readers who persisted for some time in
of Richard Cobden, described by Wikipedia as a British
referring to FG as the Preston Guardian.
manufacturer, radical and liberal statesman, associated with the Anti-Corn Law League, who said: “I never remember a
Logical development
case of a local newspaper succeeding as this has done in
An editorial at the time explained: “Throughout this century,
so short a time and subject to the same competition.”
the Preston Guardian has taken an ever-growing interest
From then on it has been progress and expansion all the way reflecting an ever increasing circulation area and volume of agricultural news and data for an informationhungry rural community. Even in the very early days the
in agriculture…Farmers Guardian is therefore, a logical development aimed at providing an extended agricultural service over a wider field…We believe in farming…Our faith is in good farming and our aim is to record it.”
reporting of market prices was, and remains, an important
The launch of the all-farming FG was hailed by the then
part of the content.
industry leaders. National Farmers Union president Sir
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Innovations from a small island
and winning numerous significant industry battles. And FG journalists, past and present, have been recognised for their high standards of journalism, with many collecting prestigious publishing awards. Today, Farmers Guardian’s is a truly national newspaper, estimated to be read by about 93,000 people per week, and with an online following of up to 100,000. Recent years have also seen much change behind the scenes at the publication after it was bought from United Business Media in early 2012 by Briefing Media, which was founded by Rory Brown and Neil Thackray in 2010. The Farmers Guardian first edition
Edited by Aberdeenshire’s very own Emma Penny, the James Turner (who was to become Lord Netherthorpe)
newspaper is now leading the way on Twitter and social
said: “The birth of Farmers Guardian is a pioneering venture
media, its journalists can often be heard speaking out about
in provincial journalism and a gratifying acknowledgement
farming issues on national media platforms and, this year, it
of the increasing importance of the place occupied by the
launched FG Take the Lead, a ground-breaking campaign
farming industry in the fabric of the nation…”
to raise awareness of sheep worrying by dogs.
Staff reporters were appointed in the circulation area’s
For 170 years it has been the farmer’s advocate and it
various regions of Cumbria, Cheshire and Yorkshire and
shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
further afield as the papers’ appeal grew. And grow it did, claiming the title of the fastest growing paid-for farming newspaper in the UK.
FG circulation growth Year
Circulation figures
1964
21,210
remarkable growth during the three decades following its
1980
More than 32,000
re-launch as Farmers Guardian.
1986
Almost 40,000
As with all farming titles, readership growth ceased after
1992
More than 51,000
the 1990s as the number of family farms being sold
2014
More than 40,000
Circulation, initially counted in hundreds, moved into the low thousands at the turn of the century and then made
accelerated and farming estates got bigger, a process that continues today. However, over almost a century and three quarters, it has recorded the dramatic developments in agriculture and the innovation which has revolutioned output. It also noted and reported the political appreciation of the industry during two world wars, but also, the indifference towards it in the intervening period. Major highlights which have entailed detailed coverage and analysis include, to name a few, farming’s accession to the Common Market, the gradual loss of practically all the marketing boards, the impact of major disease outbreaks, an ever-burdensome raft of legislation and, importantly, the growth of the supermarkets and our increasing exposure to global market forces.
About briefing Media Briefing Media is London-based media company which has placed high quality analysis, insight and in-depth research as well as hard-hitting journalism, at its core. Its diverse coverage and sectors includes: Agriculture: Farmers Guardian, the UK’s leading title for the agriculture industry, with a key focus on the trends and challenges for the livestock, arable and dairy farming sectors, in print and online. FG’s sister brands include Dairy Farmer, Arable Farming, LAMMA, CropTec, Farmers Weather and The British Farming Awards.
Media: TheMediaBriefing.com, founded in 2010 as Briefing Media’s first brand, is an intelligence platform for
And that is not to mention the growing influence of ‘the
the media industry, featuring analysis of media business
green lobby’ – something which would have been unheard
issues, contributions from expert commentators and
of during the vast part of history of FG when the whole population looked to farmers to produce our food. In addition, it has fought tirelessly over the years on behalf
intelligent curation of the must-read articles on the media. TheMediaBriefing’s key events include Digital Media Strategies, Mobile Media Strategies and The British Media Awards.
of the industry, becoming known for its campaigning stance
Innovations from a small island
87
Perpetual Progress at Farmers Weekly By Isabel Davies
Standing still is not an option
At the same time, however, our online audience is growing
for the farms that will feature
by the day and we currently serve about 300,000 unique
on the IFAJ congress tour.
users a month. While the digital revolution is changing the
Although they are very
way we deliver content to our audience, we are guided by
different businesses they
traditional values. All our journalists work across both print
share one thing in common
and web and we run an informal training scheme to make
– they want to grow and are
sure they have the skills needed to deliver to any medium.
innovating to make sure they
But at the heart of everything we do – whether it is for
do so. The same applies for Farmers Weekly which this year
our magazine, website or one of the others services we
celebrates its 80th birthday.
offer readers – are our core values of accuracy, balance,
The first issue of the magazine was launched in June 1934 and much has changed about the industry and the publication over those eight decades. Back in the 1930s the industry was in poor shape, overly dependent on imports from the British Empire and lacking in impetus. The outbreak of the Second World war changed all that and led to a big push for increased production. Farmers Weekly’s role during that time was to share best practice and provide technical advice to help farmers reach that goal.
authority, independence and leadership.
The magazine, which is split roughly 50:50 between subscriptions and news trade sales, remains essential to the lifeblood of the FW brand. However, our awardwinning Farmers Weekly website, named Business Website of the year in 2013 by the Professional Publishers Association, is crucial to the future of the business.
The objectives may have changed today, but farmers still look to us to provide the practical, forward-looking advice on the business, technical and lifestyle challenges they face on day-to-day basis.
Earlier this year we went through one of the most radical redesigns in the site’s history and have invested heavily to produce a website that is fully responsive, whether you are viewing it on a desktop machine, tablet or mobile.
At its peak, before the web and 24/7 communications,
Technically it has been a challenge, but we now have a site
Farmers Weekly sold as many as 250,000 copies a week
that meets our readers’ requirements for a product that
and was promoted on the billboards in Piccadilly Circus
works for them as well when they are out in the field, as it
in London. Today we still sell 60,000 print copies a week,
does while they are at their desk. We believe that more and
are one of the biggest selling business publications in the
more of our readers will want to consume their content via
country and market leader in agriculture.
their mobile phone over the coming months and years.
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Innovations from a small island
We also have a strong social media presence with over
As we head into our ninth decade, it is an exciting period
40,000 Facebook fans and over 38,000 Twitter followers.
for the Farmers Weekly group. In our first issue in 1934 we
These are proving a useful source of story ideas and instant
promised to be a champion for the farming industry. It’s a
feedback, as well as acting as ambassadors for the brand
promise we’re still determined to keep, through a combination
by sharing the content we produce.
of information, workflow tools and face-to-face activities.
In addition, Farmer Weekly has an e-learning platform called the Academy, which allows farmers to earn professional development points and help develop their careers and knowledge by completing simple online training modules. As the business has developed we’ve created a Creative Solutions team which provides bespoke marketing solutions for our advertising customers, while at the same time producing information, exclusive content for our readers. The work of the creative solutions team cuts across all parts of our business – print, web and face-to-face activities. For example, we run an annual awards scheme, now in its tenth year, which is a celebration of the achievements of the agricultural industry and aims to inspire others by spreading best practice. This year there are 15 categories, all of which are sponsored by industry partners, and the judging process culminates with a glittering awards ceremony in London in October. It has earned itself the reputation of being the best night out of the year in agriculture and the quality of the entrants is incredibly high. Many of our winners have gone on to play a prominent role in the industry as a result of their win. Conferences are also part of the FW portfolio. In November 2013 we ran an event called Fertile Minds which was a free conference, sponsored by Tesco, for 150 young people hoping to make their career in farming. The event was such a success it will run again later in 2014.
Farmers Apprentice The Farmers Apprentice is an ambitious high profile, multimedia Farmers Weekly campaign designed to change perceptions about farming and open the doors of British farms to new talent and ideas. As a business we are on a mission to inspire young people to consider farming as an exciting career destination – and inspire our audience and the industry to take the steps necessary to make it possible. The Farmers Apprentice scheme provides 10 young people with an opportunity to participate in a farmhouse boot camp and at the end of the week-long competition one young person wins £10,000 to support practical farming experience and or education. Potential entrants, who must be aged between 18-25, apply by making a short video which explains why they want to get involved and what they feel they could bring to the initiative. Bootcamp comprises of a series of tasks which are designed to test the potential of each of the candidates, It’s not about what you know, it is about how you perform under pressure. All of the action is filmed and then broadcast online in order to showcase the skills needed to succeed and to get young people talking about farming as an exciting, stimulating and entrepreneurial career. The competition, which in 2014 was run in conjunction with five sponsors from across the industry, was filmed in July and this year’s winner will be announced later in the year.
Isabel Davies has been content editor for Farmers Weekly since 2010, responsible for the day-to-day organisation of
We’re also offering workflow and decision support tools
the editorial team producing content for both the magazine
to help farmers, and the wider agricultural industry, to do
and its award-winning website. She has a background in
their jobs better. As such we are the UK’s leading provider
agricultural news reporting and comes from a farming family
of farm management software through our two companies
based in Leicestershire. She also runs the Farmers Weekly
Farmplan and Farmade.
twitter account @farmersweekly
Left and right: Farmers Weekly bootcamp
Innovations from a small island
89
Still serving Scottish farmers after 120 years
Royalty free
Scotland is home to what is certainly the oldest continually named agricultural newspaper in the UK and probably a lot further beyond – maybe IFAJ members can help with answering that question?
T
he Scottish Farmer was founded in 1893 by a group of farmers who were also businessmen in other fields and even included a minister of the Church of
Scotland. Those early directors of The Scottish Agricultural Publishing company included brothers Campbell and George MacPherson-Grant, who had founded Grants whisky and had leading herds of Angus cattle at that time;
The Scottish Farmer celebrated its 120th year last year and, in that time, it has only ever had five editors. It has remained an authority on the business of farming in Scotland and is often referred to as The Farming Bible.
also Charles Howatson, of Glenbuck, a famous farmer of
Spawned at a time of strict Victorian values, of austere
his day; the Rev Dr John Gillespie, a staunch supporter of
living and a strict Presbyterian outlook, The Scottish
the Galloway breed who became its first breed secretary;
Farmer has presided and reported on an industry which
John Martin, of Auchendennan, near Glasgow, who
has modernised at tremendous pace. It should come as no
called the meeting in 1878 which led to the formation
surprise, then, that Scottish farmers have been instrumental
of the Clydesdale Horse Society; and Patrick Hunter, of
in also carving out a name for themselves in Canada, the
Waterybutts, Errol, who as well as being a prominent
United States, South America and throughout Australasia.
farmer, was also chairman of the General Accident Assurance Corporation.
In fact, The SF itself is now owned by an American company, Gannet, through its UK trading arm of Newsquest.
These eminent men of agriculture chose Archibald
The newspaper’s original charter to cater for the most
MacNeilage, then and coincidentally for many years
up-to-date news on livestock breeding and agricultural
after, the secretary of the Clydesdale Horse Society – the
improvement was set in stone by those prominent
Clydesdale was the heavy horse of agriculture and still has
agriculturalists of their day and remains our objective to this
a great following with enthusiasts throughout Scotland
day. The SF was born into a world dominated by the horse
and beyond. The famous Budweiser horse teams are all
– mainly Clydesdales – and even within the confines of the
Clydesdales with their origin in Scotland, for instance and
city limits of Glasgow, where this newspaper has spent
so are the vast herds of Angus cattle in Argentina, Brazil,
most of its life thus far, there were 3500 Clydesdales used
the US, Canada and Australia.
for carting and carriage.
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Innovations from a small island
So far this year our online services had almost 600,000 page views from readers in 50 different countries and the top 10 countries which visited our sites were:
01
88.2% United Kingdom
06
0.7% New Zealand
02
2.1% United States
07
0.6% Germany
03
1.8% Ireland
08
0.5% France
04
1.6% Canada
09
0.4% Norway
05
0.8% Australia
10
0.3% Netherlands
And we are averaging more than 30,000 ‘monthly unique visitors’, which is approximately 83% better than last, while ‘page views’ are up 28%. So we must be some things right! Back then, there were also 70 byres full of dairy cows
very much in our website analysis – for instance, on a
kept within the city limits and the first offices of The SF
weather-related topic earlier this month, our web stats went
were next door to the Corn Exchange, where much of the
through the roof.
dealings in agricultural produce in the West and Central
It just goes to show that talking about the weather that affects everyone and the old adage of people’s faces and names, still sell newspapers!
of Scotland were conducted. So, the centre of Scotland’s great industrial city, Glasgow, was just the place for such a publication The first issue was of 20-pages and 12,000 were printed. It met with a spirited readers’ response, despite a lack of
Scottish farmer: www.thescottishfarmer.co.uk
advertising. Nowadays, we have a print run of about 22,000 and sell not only in Scotland but into the North of England and Ireland as well – our research shows that an average of more than five people read each issue, which gives us a readership in excess of 100,000. It is, unfortunately for all of us, a declining print market due to the contraction in the number of farmers, but our stats show that our decline has been less marked than others in the industry, many of whom have suffered double digit declines in some of the past few years. Last year, our audited figures were down by just 1.6%. Of course, we have also embraced the digital age. We have a lively website and an even livelier facebook page which, as well as being used as a clever selling point for the printed edition, generates ideas and photo opportunities for us on a regular basis. The fact remains, though, that the things that excite our readers most are the human stories and weather events, rather than the minutiae of agri-politics. This is reflected
Innovations from a small island
91
A great North-East Scotland tradition The P&J has come a long way through the centuries to deliver news to the north of Scotland, by Susan Welsh, P&J features writer.
T
his morning, across the north-east of Scotland,
and feature-packed all-colour paper, as it was only one
Highlands and islands, people woke up to the sound
sheet of paper, folded over to make four pages. There were
of the Press and Journal dropping through their
no headlines, and it largely carried news from the national
letterbox. Thousands more readers scattered across the globe, ranging from the empty plains of America to bustling cities such as Seoul and Hong Kong, clicked on a mouse to read their favourite daily newspaper.
newspapers of that time. A rare sample of one of these early publications turned up at a book fair in Aberdeen a few years ago, dated Tuesday, December 29, 1747, to January 5, 1748. Stories include
The Press and Journal, Britain’s best-selling morning
reports on European battles, while the only local story is
regional newspaper and the world’s third-oldest English-
an appeal for stolen money – £30, to be returned to the
language title, continues to evolve – and go from strength to
paper’s owners. That honesty would earn a reward of two
strength. Its story is just as remarkable as some of the news
guineas, with no questions asked, it states.
items, sporting reports and human interest stories that appear within its pages.
In 1748 the name of the paper changed from Aberdeen’s Journal to the Aberdeen Journal and was published on
Its birth was not long after the Battle of Culloden and
a weekly basis for 128 years until August 1876, when it
the Jacobite Rebellion and around 50 years before the
became a daily newspaper. The next chapter in the story
French Revolution. The idea for a newspaper in the north
began with William McCombie, born on May 7, 1809.
emerged after James Chalmers, official printer to Aberdeen
He joined the staff at the Aberdeen Gazette in 1849, and
Town Council, was asked by the city fathers to report on
became editor of that publication in 1853. One of his first
the battle of Culloden. Having taken a day-and-a-half on
moves was to change the paper’s name to the Aberdeen
horseback to get there, Chalmers was inundated with
Free Press – a forerunner to today’s daily paper.
requests for his basic bulletin on the events when he returned home. From that simple A4-sized bulletin, the idea of the Aberdeen Journal as it was to be known, was born.
With Mr McCombie as editor, the paper supported many causes, some of which were considered revolutionary for the time, such as universal suffrage. But the paper had a
Initially known as the Aberdeen’s Journal, it was launched
rival – the aforementioned, Aberdeen Journal. Any rivalry
in 1747, with 500 copies, each costing tuppence, being
was put aside in 1918, when a fire destroyed the production
snapped up. It didn’t look anything like today’s news, sport
department of the Aberdeen Free Press.
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Innovations from a small island
In a move that would possibly not happen in today’s tough
While the myth may have been dispelled, what it does show is
market, the directors of The Journal helped their rivals get
that the paper has a special relationship with its readers. It is
a paper out until the machinery that had been destroyed in
seen as a publication you can trust and the first place readers
the fire could be replaced. A few years later, in November
turn to when they want to know the full facts of any story.
1922, the two papers merged to become the Aberdeen
And with the changes in new technology and the introduction
Press and Journal.
of our new-look website: www.pressandjournal.co.uk, it has
For more than 250 years, it has charted the ups and downs
never been easier to be first with the latest news.
of events in the north and north-east, and far beyond,
At the click of a button, readers can now get sport,
covering everything from farming to finance, and leads
business, comment, features, analysis, reviews and news
the way when it comes to supporting local produce and
as soon as it happens. With six editions covering the
producers. It’s brought news such as when the American
Highlands and islands, Inverness, Moray, the north-east,
colonists declared independence and split off from the old
Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen, available six days a week,
country and has seen whole countries spring into life and
and a raft of talented journalists working hard to report the
then disappear from the map again.
latest events in an unbiased way, it’s no wonder the P&J
Throughout the centuries, the paper has reported on the world’s wars and famines, and Scotland’s days of great joy
continues to be the first choice for thousands of readers, home and away.
and days of disaster. The paper, known fondly simply as the P&J, made headlines itself on January 13, 2012, when it was printed as a broadsheet for the last time. The switch to a new-look compact format marked the end of an era and a new dawn for the P&J. The occasion saw the paper republish front pages from some of the events and incidents it covered, such as the outbreak of world wars and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It also took the opportunity to finally dispel the widespread myth that when the Titanic sank, the paper ran with the story headed “North-east man lost at sea”. On Tuesday, April 16, 1912, as was the custom, the front page of the paper, still known then as the Aberdeen Journal, was fully taken out with adverts. But inside the paper, news of the tragedy dominated. The headline read: “Mid-Atlantic Disaster, Titanic Sunk By Iceberg”.
Influential 19th Century editor William McCombie
Innovations from a small island
93
UK Farming Historic Timeline 4000 BC
The first farmers cleared trees and started to settle
1701
Jethro Tull invents the seed drill
1738
Crop rotation pioneer Lord Charles ‘Turnip’ Townshend dies
1902
The Ivel Agricultural Motor becomes first successful light tractor
1910 to 1930s
Plant and animal breeding institutes established in England, Scotland and Wales
1973
Britain joins the European Economic Community and adopts the Common Agricultural Policy
1980s
Grain and butter ‘mountains’ cause concern leading to production caps
2014
Aberdeen hosts the IFAJ Congress
94
Innovations from a small island
2000 BC
Farming settlements established across the country
1700s
Land ‘enclosed’ to produce more food leading to innovation and displacement.
1795
Death of Robert Bakewell man who introduced selective stock breeding
1850s to 1900
Crop and meat movement improved by refrigeration, railways and shipping
1926
Harry Ferguson patents the three-point tractor linkage
1950s onwards
Yields boosted by artificial fertiliser and crop protection products
1994 & 1996
UK scientists develop the first GM crop and clone Dolly the Sheep
2013
UK Government launches its AgriTech Strategy
100 AD
The Romans brought ploughs and scythes, while farmers sold to those in the growing towns.
1600
Movement to cities created a market for British and foreign food
1800s
Establishment of Agricultural Colleges, Institutes, Societies and Journals
1851
UK becomes the first country to be more urban than rural
1930s
Cheap imports put pressure on British farmers
1947
Introduction of Agricultural Act to reduce reliance on food imports
1990/2000s
Farming industry responds to BSE and Foot and Mouth by developing assurance systems
2010
Government introduces the concept of sustainable intensification
700 AD
With the Romans long-gone, society became more fragmented and farmers retreated into small farmsteads
1086
The Norman Doomsday Book clarified land ownership
1815 & 1846
Corns Laws introduced to limit imports
1834
Tolpuddle farmworkers create first trade unions and strike
1939-1945
Country urged to ‘Dig for Victory’ to feed wartime population
1946
Soil Association founded to promote organic farming
2005
Greater focus on environmental support from the CAP
2008
Grain price spike causes food security concerns
Innovations from a small island
95
Net result for public-private technology collaboration
Insects, and their roles as vectors in the transmission of disease, pose problems for both agriculture and society, especially in the developing world. But a new British invention, which is to be developed with support from Scotland’s James Hutton Institute, promises to provide an alternative to insecticides. Its developers are now working towards securing funding through the UK Government’s £160m Agri-Tech strategy, under the “Crop and Livestock Disease Challenges” initiative. Bruce Alexander, the managing director of Xeroshield, takes up the story.
X
eroshield was founded in 2005 to develop an
enhanced susceptibility to environmental pathogens. Since
“insecticidal textile”. Its activity is based on its
the fabric does not incorporate conventional pesticides,
structure, rather than treatment with conventional
it is not compromised by existing biochemical resistance
pesticides. My background as a medical entomologist
mechanisms in pest populations. It has no fumigant
provided the initial concept, and the textile has been
effect, nor does it taint the crop or represent a health risk
developed in collaboration with technical textile specialists,
to people involved in installing or maintaining it. Unlike
the Non-wovens Innovation & Research Institute (NIRI), a
untreated meshes, it is designed be effective against pests
University of Leeds spin-out company.
that are trapped under it during installation and which
The two partners formed Insectshield, a joint venture which holds the patent rights to the technology. The long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have delivered very promising kill rates in laboratory trials and the programme of work is about to be expanded, involving larger scale trials and evaluation in West Africa. Although initial development has focused on application of the textile as a malaria control technology to manufacture LLINs, it has a wide range of potential uses. These include various types of crop protection netting, for both field and glasshouse crops.
would otherwise proliferate. It is robust and expected to be reusable over several field seasons. Although research to date suggests it should be effective against a wide range of insect species, the structure can be modified to reduce the danger to beneficial insects, such as bees and hover flies. Our next steps are to find a commercial partner in crop protection textiles to work with us and develop the technology for mutual benefit, including a planned threeyear study in collaboration with the James Hutton Institute (Invergowrie, Dundee), examining the protection of root crops against aphid vectors of Turnip Yellows Virus.
The mode of action of the patented textile involves
For more information about Xeroshield, visit
damaging the insect cuticle, causing death of the pest
the Science and Innovation display in the
species through dehydration, structural damage and
Thistle Hotel.
96
Innovations from a small island
Delegate list and contact details Last Name
First Name
Reg Type
Country
Email_Address
Aaltonen
Raila
Full delegate
Finland
raila.aaltonen@alkukirjain.fi
Aguirre Morales
Yajaira del Socorro
Master Class
Nicaragua
yaguirrem_16@yahoo.es
Anderson
Keith
Full delegate
United States
krand88@sbcglobal.net
Andreasen
Gudrun
Full delegate
Denmark
gudrun.andreasen@gmail.com
Baylor Anderson
Barb
Full delegate
United States
anderagcom@sbcglobal.net
Becker
Cassie
Full delegate
United States
cbecker@growmark.com
Becker Weigel
Mechthilde
Full delegate
Germany
becker-weigel@wdagrar.de
Behringer
Sally
Full delegate
United States
sally@mustangred.com
Bell
Adrian
Full delegate
United Kingdom
adrian.bell@whisper.pr
Bellocchi
Lisa
Full delegate
Italy
lisa.bellocchi@gmail.com
Blackburn
Jennifer
Full delegate
United States
jennifer@sorghumgrowers.com
Blair
Jennifer
Full delegate
Canada
jennifer.blair@fbcpublishing.com
Boijer
Katarina
Full delegate
United Kingdom
katarinaboijer@hotmail.com
Bowman
Rachel
Full delegate
Australia
rachelb@seedbedmedia.com.au
Bratberg
Even
Full delegate
Norway
even.bratberg@nmbu.no
Brod
Birgit
Delegate partner
Germany
birgitbrod@gmx.de
Brod
Hans-Georg
Full delegate
Germany
hgbrod@t-online.de
Brown
Kasey
Full delegate
United States
kbrown@angusjournal.com
Brown
Beverley
Full delegate
United Kingdom
bev1969@btinternet.com
Cadogan
Stephen
Full delegate
Ireland
stephen.cadogan@examiner.ie
Campbell
Alison
Delegate partner
United Kingdom
alisonbcampbel@hotmail.com
Campbell
William James
Full delegate
United Kingdom
farmersjournal@btinternet.com
Chaudhari
Bablu
Full delegate
India
bablu_chaudhari25@yahoo.co.in
Christiansen
Jorgen Lund
Full delegate
Denmark
jlc@jlundc.dk
Collie
Susan
Full delegate
Australia
susan@agriprose.com.au
Collie
Gordon
Full delegate
Australia
gordon@agriprose.com.au
Cote
Anne
Full delegate
Canada
annecote@mymts.net
Couch Lee
Christy
Full delegate
United States
christy@ceeleecommunications.com
Craigie
Jane
Full delegate
United Kingdom
jane@janecraigie.com
Cruz Bellodas
Carlos
Master Class
Peru
carloscruzbel@gmail.com
Daynard
Kelly
Full delegate
Canada
kelly@farmfoodcare.org
Donaldson
Brian
Full delegate
Ireland
bdonaldson@impartialreporter.com
Donovan
Mike
BGAJ member, not on full Congress
United Kingdom
editor@farmideas.co.uk
Epp
Melanie
Full delegate
Canada
melanie@melanierepp.com
Eppenberger
David
Full delegate
Switzerland
info@eppenberger-media.ch
Evju
Marte Heieraas
Full delegate
Norway
marte.evju@gmail.com
Feichtinger
Paul
Full delegate
Austria
paul.feichtinger@agrana.com
Fenton
Kathleen
Full delegate
United States
kelly@bcsthinktank.com
Finnamore
Allison
Full delegate
Canada
allison@finnamore.ca
Fischer
Katrin
Young Leader
Germany
katrinfischer81@gmx.de
Fletcher
Ken
Full delegate
United Kingdom
ken.fletcher@thescottishfarmer.co.uk
François
Joseph
Full delegate
Belgium
joseph.francois@scarlet.be
Frans
Ida
Delegate partner
Belgium
Ida.Frans@telenet.be
Fredenburgh
Jez
Full delegate
United Kingdom
jez.fredenburgh@rbi.co.uk
Gaeta
Gabriel
Delegate partner
United States
gabe396@yahoo.com
Gálvez Quim
Fredy Gustavo
Master Class
Guatemala
fredygalvez@yahoo.es
Gäre
Susanne
Full delegate
Sweden
susanne.gare@gmail.com
Gerstenkorn
Vienna
Full delegate
Germany
vienna_gerstenkorn@yahoo.de
Godtfredsen
Micke
Full delegate
Finland
micke.godtfredsen@slc.fi
Goldberger
Roman
Young Leader
Austria
roman.goldberger@landwirt.com
Gordea
Liviu
Full delegate
Romania
lgordea@yahoo.com
Graefin von Schwerin
Astrid
Delegate partner
Germany
astrid.schwerin@schwanenfeld.de
Graf von Schwerin
Wilhelm
Full delegate
Germany
wilhelmschwerin@t-online.de
Grimstedt
Linda
Young Leader
Sweden
linda.grimstedt@landlantbruk.se
Groenewald
Anneli
Young Leader
South Africa
annelig@caxton.co.za
Grose
Sharon
Full delegate
Canada
sharon@huskyfarm.ca
Grose
Walter
Full delegate
Canada
walter@huskyfarm.ca
Gulden
Kathrine Torday
Full delegate
Norway
kathrine-torday.gulden@bioforsk.no
Günther
Morten
Full delegate
Norway
morten.gunther@bioforsk.no
Habisch
Markus
Full delegate
Austria
markus.habisch@stbb.at
Haigh
Georgina
BGAJ member, not on full Congress
United Kingdom
georgina.haigh@farmersguardian.com
Hakulinen
Tarja
Full delegate
Finland
tarja.hakulinen@mtv3.fi
Haley
Simon
Full delegate
United Kingdom
simonhaley42@hotmail.com
Hansen
Per Henrik
Full delegate
Denmark
ph@perhenrik.dk
Helseth
Wenche
Full delegate
Norway
wenche.helseth@norsvin.no
Henningsson
Marie
Full delegate
Sweden
marie.henningsson@landlantbruk.se
Innovations from a small island
97
Delegate list and contact details cont. Hershey
Jim
Full delegate
United States
jhershey@soy.org
Hess
Ann
Full delegate
United States
ahess@alltech.com
Hillyer
Gregg
Full delegate
United States
gregg.hillyer@progressivefarmer.com
Hillyer
Julia
Full delegate
United States
hogs2gregg@aol.com
Hinze
Guenther
Full delegate
Germany
hicomm@web.de
Hofstee
Sjoerd
Full delegate
The Netherlands
shofstee@langsdemelkweg.nl
Holmlund
Nina
Full delegate
Finland
nina.holmlund@tradgard.fi
Horstmeier
Greg
Full delegate
United States
greg.horstmeier@dtn.com
Hough
Cassandra
Full delegate
Australia
cassiejhough@gmail.com
Hussey
Aisling
Young Leader
Ireland
ahussey@farmersjournal.ie
Ikeda
Tatsuo
Full delegate
Japan
t_ikeda@nca.or.jp
Impey
Louise
Full delegate
United Kingdom
Louise.Impey@fwi.co.uk
Ingold
Jonas
Full delegate
Switzerland
jonas.ingold@lid.ch
Ininahazwe
Jean de Dieu
Master Class
Burundi
mutama.john85@gmail.com
Jennings
Rebecca
Young Leader
Australia
becjennings@y7mail.com
Johansson
Lena
Full delegate
Sweden
lena.johansson@lrf.se
Jørgensen
Niels
Full delegate
Denmark
ncj@2vejs.dk
Kaspers
Madelon
Full delegate
The Netherlands
madelon.kaspers@rabobank.com
Kessler
Melissa
Full delegate
United States
mkessler@grains.org
Kirkemo
Anne-Mette
Full delegate
Norway
mkirkemo@online.no
Kirkemo
Ole
Full delegate
Norway
ole.kirkemo@njff.no
Kluivers
Anne
Full delegate
The Netherlands
globalassistant@ifaj.org
Knapp
Katherine
Full delegate
United States
katie.knapp1@gmail.com
Krebs
Adrian
Full delegate
Switzerland
adrian.krebs@fibl.org
Kren Hlebič
Tatjana
Full delegate
Slovenia
tatjana.kren@rtvslo.si
Krick
Friederike
Full delegate
Germany
krick@agrar-press.de
Lamp
Greg
Full delegate
United States
greg.lamp@chsinc.com
Lang-Ree
Rasmus
Full delegate
Norway
rlr@geno.no
Lange
Hans-Otto
Full delegate
Germany
hansottolange@yahoo.de
Learmonth
Jo
QMS/BGAJ
United Kingdom
jo.learmonth@dsl.pipex.com
Lee
Craig
Full delegate
United States
ceeleecomm@gmail.com
Leigh
Tamara
Full delegate
Canada
tamara@shinybird.ca
Lewis
Pete
Full delegate
Australia
petelewisabc@gmail.com
LUCKIN
SAM
Full delegate
United Kingdom
samluckin@hotmail.com
Luomanpera
Seija
Full delegate
Finland
seija.luomanpera@yara.com
Macagnan
Francielli Alessandr
Master Class
Brazil
francielli@cresolcentral.com.br
Mackenzie
Gemma
Full delegate
United Kingdom
gemma.mackenzie@ajl.co.uk
Macmillan
Neil
Delegate partner
Canada
nmacmillan1@cogeco.ca
Magowan
Rodney
Full delegate
United Kingdom
rodney@rodneymagowan.co.uk
Mann
Alison
Young Leader
United Kingdom
alison.mann@thescottishfarmer.co.uk
Markey
David
Full delegate
Ireland
david@ifpmedia.com
Martin
Carolyn
Full delegate
Australia
carolynjanemartin@gmail.com
Matho Motsou
Anne
Master Class
Chad
moranne5@yahoo.fr
MATONANGE
ENOS MASANJA
Master Class
Tanzania, United Republic
sanjaeno@gmail.com
McClintic
Dennis
Delegate partner
United States
mcclinticfamily@live.com
McClintic
Christine
Full delegate
United States
mcclinticfamily@live.com
McCullough
Chris
Full delegate
United Kingdom
chris@utvinternet.com
Merlo
Catherine
Full delegate
United States
cmerlo@farmjournal.com
Mikesell
Sarah
Full delegate
United States
Sarah.Mikesell@5mpublishing.com
Miller
Sue
Full delegate
New Zealand
kotuku.media@xtra.co.nz
Mizuguchi
Satoru
Full delegate
Japan
msatoru99@gmail.com
Moore
Mark
Full delegate
Germany
moorecommunications@earthlink.net
Moore
Suzi
Full delegate
Australia
gypsy_suzi@hotmail.com
Mueller
Hans
Full delegate
Switzerland
hans.mueller7@thurweb.ch
Mühlhausen
Christian
Full delegate
Germany
info@landpixel.de
Murphy
Lyndsey
Full delegate
United States
lmurphy@ohiocornandwheat.org
Murphy
Debra
Young Leader
Canada
dmurphy@realagriculture.com
Mustonen
Riitta
Full delegate
Finland
riitta.mustonen@mt1.fi
Mysen
Erling
Full delegate
Norway
er-mys@online.no
Nieder
Christel
Full delegate
Germany
chnieder@web.de
Nieder
Helmut
Full delegate
Germany
h.nieder@t-online.de
Nielsen
Mariann Bach
Delegate partner
Denmark
mbn@2vejs.dk
Nilsson
Kristina
Full delegate
Sweden
kristina.hunter-nilsson@delaval.com
Nimmervoll
Stefan
Full delegate
Austria
nimmervoll@blickinsland.at
O’Keeffe
Pat
Full delegate
Ireland
pokeeffe@farmersjournal.ie
O’Reilly
Damien
Full delegate
Ireland
oreillda@rte.ie
Odden Reksnes
Helga
Full delegate
Norway
helgaodden.reksnes@animalia.no
Patrico
Gretchen
Delegate partner
United States
jpatrico@progressivefarmer.com
Patrico
James
Full delegate
United States
jpatrico@progressivefarmer.com
98
Innovations from a small island
Pedersen
Annemarie
Full delegate
Canada
annemariep@shaw.ca
Persinger
Harlen
Full delegate
United States
hlensphotos@wi.rr.com
Persson
Marianne
Full delegate
Sweden
marianne.persson@atl.nu
Peters
Jan
Full delegate
Germany
0485292221@t-online.de
Poole
Laura
Full delegate
Australia
Poole.Laura@abc.net.au
Porter
Cedric
BGAJ member, not on full Congress
United Kingdom
cedric@supplyintelligence.co.uk
Price
Tim
Full delegate
United Kingdom
tim_price@nfumutual.co.uk
Pulkkinen
Markku
Full delegate
Finland
markku.k.pulkkinen@kolumbus.fi
Queck
Peter
Full delegate
United States
peter.queck@gmail.com
Queck
Paul
Full delegate
United States
pqueck@aol.com
Radford
Tracey
Full delegate
Australia
lra93059@bigpond.net.au
Radford
Leigh
Full delegate
Australia
radford.leigh@abc.net.au
Rathai
Scott
Delegate partner
United States
maximus-doc@hotmail.com
Rathai
Kenna
Full delegate
United States
kenna.rathai@kbrcommunications.com
Rediger
Markus
Full delegate
Switzerland
rediger@lid.ch
Rediger
Marianne
Full delegate
Switzerland
m.rediger@bluewin.ch
Roady
Amy
Young Leader
United States
roadya@ilsoy.org
Roberts
Owen
Full delegate
Canada
owen@uoguelph.ca
Said Matta Karam
ROBERTO
Full delegate
Uruguay
robertomattak@gmail.com
Saltnes
Tora
Full delegate
Norway
tora.saltnes@animalia.no
Schaer
Lilian
Full delegate
Canada
lilianschaer@agrifoodprojects.ca
Schmid
Colette
Full delegate
Switzerland
colette.schmid@sunrise.ch
Schmidt
Heidi
Delegate partner
Germany
imsgschmidt@hotmail.com
Schmidt
Gerhard
Full delegate
Germany
imsgschmidt@hotmail.com
Schulz-Willecke
Renate
Full delegate
Germany
dghinze@web.de
Schwalbe
Richard
Full delegate
United States
kelly@bcsthinktank.com
Schwerdtfeger
Rolf
Full delegate
Germany
r.schwerdtfeger@actgmbh.de
Schwery
Julia
Full delegate
Switzerland
j.schwery@bauernzeitung.ch
Scott
Jessica
Full delegate
United States
jessica.scott@meredith.com
SEKINE
YUKO
Full delegate
Japan
yuko-s@s4.dion.ne.jp
Serikov
Daniyar
Master Class
Kazakhstan
mediaplex.kz@gmail.com
Seuser
Katharina
Full delegate
Germany
kseuser@aol.com
Shearon
Dolores
Delegate partner
United States
dmshearon@gmail.com
Sigdel
Pitambar
Master Class
Nepal
pitam200@gmail.com
Slusark
Jane
Full delegate
United States
jane.slusark@pioneer.com
Snyder Bjorneberg
Cindy
Full delegate
United States
csnyder@northrim.net
Sørensen
Kaj Lund
Full delegate
Denmark
kajls@post.tele.dk
Spangler
Holly
Full delegate
United States
hspangler@farmprogress.com
Spangler
John
Full delegate
United States
spangler@mymctc.net
Stark
Magnus J
Full delegate
Sweden
magnus.stark@ksla.se
Stringleman
Hugh
Full delegate
New Zealand
stringleman@internet.co.nz
Theys
Jos
Full delegate
Belgium
jostheys@jostheys.be
Townsend
Samantha
Full delegate
Australia
samantha.williams@news.com.au
Townsend
Leo
BGAJ member, not on full Congress
United Kingdom
leo.townsend@hgca.ahdb.org.uk
Tröster
Martin
Full delegate
Germany
martin_troester@yahoo.de
Turnbull
Fiona
QMS/BGAJ
United Kingdom
fiona@fruixstorage.co.uk
Van Boekel
Ruben
Full delegate
The Netherlands
r.vanboekel@agrio.nl
Van der Sterren
Marc
Full delegate
The Netherlands
ifaj@marcvandersterren.nl
Van Gelder
Josephine
Full delegate
The Netherlands
globalmanager@ifaj.org
Van Meervenne
Michiel
Young Leader
Belgium
michiel@vilt.be
Van Outryve
Jacques
Full delegate
Belgium
jacques.van.outryve@boerenbond.be
Van Woerkom
Marjolein
Full delegate
The Netherlands
info@vanwoerkomjournalistiek.nl
VECEROVA
Dana
Full delegate
Czech Republic
vecerova@foodnet.cz
Venters
Howard
Full delegate
United Kingdom
howard.venters@gmail.com
Verhaeren
Jozef
Full delegate
Belgium
jef.verhaeren@telenet.be
Vuković
Martin
Full delegate
Croatia
martin.vukovic@hrt.hr
Wallace
Carolyn
Full delegate
United States
cskwallace@hotmail.com
Wallace
John
Full delegate
United States
jwallacecom@sbcglobal.net
Waters
Ben
Full delegate
Australia
bjjwaters@gmail.com
Wennström
Helena
Full delegate
Sweden
helena.wennstrom@atl.nu
Werblow
Steve
Full delegate
United States
steve@stevewerblow.com
Wijbenga
Jacqueline
Full delegate
The Netherlands
j.wijbenga@eisma.nl
Woodtli
Jeanne
Full delegate
Switzerland
j.woodtli@bauernzeitung.ch
Yamada
Masaru
Full delegate
Japan
masaru@yamadasan.com
YEVES
Enrique
Full delegate
Italy
enrique.yeves@fao.org
Yokota
Tetsuji
Full delegate
Japan
t-yokota@r4.dion.ne.jp
Zimmerman
Chuck
Full delegate
United States
chuck@zimmcomm.biz
This list includes only those who chose not to opt-out from the public directory
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