Supported by SEFARI GAteway, the Royal Bank of Scotland, the RSA, and in particular the RSA Fellows Borders Network and the RSA Fellows Rural and Environmental Issues network Scotland and NFU Mutual, over 100 guests attended the Business breakfast from 8:30 until 10:30, in the Members Marquee, organised and welcomed by RSA fellow Mrs Ann Packard, FRSA, HonFRIAS.
The talks started with a provocation on the topic of soil from Professor Lorna Dawson, SEFARI Gateway Knowledge Exchange Lead for Environment and Senior Soil Scientist at the James Hutton Institute. She discussed the devastation from the dust bowl in the 1930s when an estimated 1.2 billion tons of soil were lost across 100 million acres in the US, to the current regenerative farming practices, which help to protect our soils. Lorna spoke about how, without living plant roots and fungal networks to hold soil in place, strong winds and floods can seriously erode our precious soils that deliver so many of the services on our planet such as fresh water, clean air and nutritious food.
The four speakers at the Borders Breakfast. Heather Kelman, Lorna Dawson, Nigel Kennedy and Ian Wright, left to right. Source: Nina Clancy
The second talk, delivered by Heather Kelman, Chair Food Standards Scotland, was about food standards and featured geopolitical and local issues, volume for profit versus nutritional value, austere pricing and nutrient density and public health issues and creating affordable sustainable solutions. This talk was followed by the NFUS perspective from NFUS President, Martin Kennedy. He spoke on the important role of farmers in food production, and how farming is linked to the environment, and the economy. He demonstrated how farmers mitigate and adapt to climate change and how farming is linked to policy outcomes and governments at all levels.
The quartet of talks was completed by a perspective on the UK Food & Drinks Export Council from Ian Wright, CBE, co-chair of the UK Food & Drink Export Council. He described the context and provided definitions, discussed the role of legalisation and regulation, the relationship between UK Governments and devolved administrations, and he many challenges and opportunities for the future, including logistics. Throughout all the talks we could see the many interdependencies between our natural assets, such as soil, in providing good nutritious and safe food, through sustainable farming across the nation, allowing valuable food and drink assets for national and international trade.
After a vibrant question and answer session at the Business Breakfast, the speakers were interviewed by BBC Radio Borders, with the conversations broadcast during the day on BBC Radio. In addition, speakers were invited by the Ring Commentator, James Playfair Hannah, from Playfair Farms, Morebattle, to participate in the live show which was broadcast to the show ground throughout the day.
Lorna Dawson, SEFARI Gateway, being interviewed by Ring Commentator, James Playfair Hannah from Playfair Farms, Morebattle. Source: Lorna Dawson
Heath Kelman, FSS Chair, being interviewed by Ring Commentator, James Playfair Hannah from Playfair Farms, Morebattle. Source: Lorna Dawson
A great day was had by all at the Border Union Agricultural Society Show, on Friday 26th July 2024, Kelso showground. We hope the visitors were entertained and informed, we were certainly engaged by the many and varied questions we received at our event, especially from the younger members at the BUAS Business Breakfast.
Family fun in the sun at the show as the rain clouds were kept at bay. Source: Lorna Dawson
Written by Lorna Dawson
Title image: Audience gathers for the Borders Breakfast debate. Source: Nina Clancy