Landwards Spring 2022
Presidents Musings It is just over 10 years since Sir John Beddington led the government Foresight report, ‘The Future of Food and Farming – Challenges and Choices for Global Sustainability’.
The fact that this 200-page report, looking at the demands on global agriculture over the next 40 years, neglected to mention that agricultural engineers may have a tangible contribution to make in this area prompted the IAgrE, led by Peter Leech and Andy Newbold who were the IAgrE Presidents during this period, to formulate a response highlighting a number of areas where our profession was/could be contributing. I have just re-read their document, a copy of which can be found on the IAgrE website, and their comments would seem to me to be as valid today as they were then. It is interesting that many of their highlighted areas, particularly in robotics and machine control in both field work and the dairy parlour have been adopted and really gained acceptance by commercial farmers. Robotics drive It was pleasing to see so much interest in the initial discussion forum of the newly-formed Robotics Special Interest Group with over 60 people joining on-line. The 10
reduced number of immigrant farm workers being allowed into the UK post Brexit is generating urgent demand for automation by our farmers and growers at just the time that the technology is reaching maturity. As an industry we have a great opportunity to capitalise on this requirement. My thanks to Kit Franklin and Ray King for co-ordinating this meeting as well as to the all-female panel of experts, Rose Franklin, Rhian Griffith and Florence Laquzet who fielded the questions. Food or nature? The details that are now starting to emanate from Defra on the funding available under the Sustainable Farming Initiative seem to give little incentive to small and medium sized farms to really engage. It seems to me that the time, money and effort required to participate are unlikely to be justified by the proposed payments. Some clarity is needed on what the vision of the future is for land in this country. The NFU is lobbying hard to at least maintain our self-sufficiency in food production at the 60% level citing
that in 1984 it was 78%. Conversion of productive agricultural land away from food production needs to be critically reviewed when large sections of the media seem to be driving a ‘return to nature’ or rewilding agenda. This is the last of my Musings as President of the Institution before I hand over the role to Steve Constable at the forthcoming AGM in April. May I take this opportunity to sincerely thank the Secretariat for their work and flexibility during my two years of office. These have been challenging times, which despite giving few opportunities for getting out and about have nonetheless resulted in changes to our membership offering which I am sure will endure. The ability to hold meetings on-line whether in a pure or hybrid fashion make our annual conference and other meetings accessible to a much higher proportion of our members, wherever they are and whenever they have the time to participate which has to be a good thing. Paul Hemingway president@iagre.org
