The 39th AGM & Technical Conference was again held at Murrayshall Country Estate this year, which provided an opportunity to hear a range of views from four speakers who have been at the forefront of the changes that our industry are currently undergoing.
The event provided a platform for a wide range of views and experiences. However, in listening to the speakers and the questions from the floor it’s clear that it is only by learning from others experiences that we can avoid repeating past mistakes. With views representing the European perspective from Jenny Brunton; the view from across the Irish Sea from Simon Best; a wide-ranging summary of the challenges facing the industry from Andrew Meredith and in a first for a Scottish Agronomy conference, the Organic view from John Pawsey, we had varying perspectives on the industry that led to lively and informative discussion.
The common thread from all four speakers was a recognition of volatility in markets and weather, along with concerns about various aspects of sustainability, the journey to Net-Zero and resilience in an ever more challenging business landscape. In all cases, a renewed focus on business management was key. The skill is in recognising if change is needed and then making it with an acceptable level of risk and profitability. The solution for one business will not necessarily work for another – there are no global answers.
Scottish Agronomy has always been in the strong position of being able to draw on a range of ideas to inform our research and tailor advice from a sound evidence base. The first step is to put any preconceptions to one side and ensure that any idea is grounded in fact, relevant to members and compliant with regulation and end user needs. Change may not need to be as wholesale as some desire, but it will occur when it delivers member benefit.
