Farming: NFU Scotland aims for net gains from online conference

A year ago, the farming community might have been behind the curve when it came to the virtual world – but the strictures of lockdown have seen the benefits of online events quickly picked up by such a widely dispersed industry.
Alister Jack will make a speech and take questions at the conferenceAlister Jack will make a speech and take questions at the conference
Alister Jack will make a speech and take questions at the conference

And with NFU Scotland set to host its first ever online annual general meeting next week, the union hopes that more members than ever will be able to tune into the top ministerial line-up set to address the event.

“In these exceptional times, NFU Scotland has put in place arrangements to allow it to hold these important events in the Scottish farming calendar online with an exciting three-day programme for the conference,” said the union’s president, Andrew MCornick.

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He said that in a year like no other, it was hugely important that the key events in Scotland’s farming calendar still went go ahead: “The twin challenges of rebuilding trading links with the EU and creating new trading opportunities worldwide are essential to the future fortunes of our farming, food and drink sectors.

“Driving forward our ambitions as producers is set against the economic backdrop dominated by the impact of Covid-19, making our role central to the nation’s green recovery.”

On Thursday, 11 February at 2.15pm, farmers and crofters will have the opportunity to join the Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt Hon Alister Jack MP. The Minister will make a short speech before joining NFU Scotland’s President Andrew McCornick to take questions on the opportunities for Scottish agriculture under the new Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU.

“This is a key opportunity for members to discuss how farmers and crofters can grow Scotland’s trading prospects as a land of food and drink with the UK Government,” said McCornick.

On Friday, 12 February at 1pm, Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing MSP will give his annual address to the AGM and then take questions in what has traditionally been the big finale to the union’s proceedings.

Meanwhile the organisers of AgriScot – one of the key winter events of the year – announced that their event would be taking place on Wednesday, November 17 – in either real or virtual format.

“We were delighted with the response of our sponsors and trade stand holders in supporting our online AgriScot in November 2020, said AgriScot Chairman, Robert Neill, who added the organisers had also been blown away” by the number of attendees which had been far in excess of predictions.

“As I said last year: face-to-face is difficult to replace, but feedback from visitors following our online event suggests that they found the platform a great way to interact, glean new ideas and do business – which is what AgriScot has always been about, year-in-year-out.”

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Neil said that results from the 2020 AgriScot visitor survey showed that the online event met or exceeded expectations for 84 per cent of attendees and 96 per cent said they would attend online again. 90 per cent of exhibitors also said the event offered good value and would attend again.

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