Over 75 key stakeholders from the farming sector have been working to identify non-technical barriers and explore solutions for a sustainable future in agriculture.
Hosted by Northumberland County Council and the Rural Design Centre, the event at Kirkley Hall drew together farmers, allied businesses, supply chain representatives, agricultural finance professionals, educators, policymakers and agencies.
Discussions included business viability, resilience, and environmental incentives, with a strong focus on finding balanced solutions that protect the rural economy, preserve the natural landscape, and safeguard food security.
Guest speakers included Glen Sanderson, Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Chris Clark from Nethergill Associates, Lee Lister and Claire Gibson from Kirkley Hall College, farmer-trader Joe Kidd, and Lee-Anne Oliver from Fold Farm Vets.
Each contributed valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the agricultural sector in the county.
Cllr Sanderson said: “It was a pleasure to open this important conference about the future of our farming in Northumberland. This is a topic close to my heart as I am a farmer myself and see first-hand the challenges that we face.
“This conference is a crucial step in understanding how we can continue working together to ensure that our policies and initiatives not only address environmental concerns but also support the livelihoods of our rural communities.
“It was very positive to see such commitment to continued collaboration, with a strong desire to further the conversation on agricultural sustainability.”
The hands-on, collaborative workshops covered topics such as the financial impacts of moving towards net-zero emissions, the skills and planning needed for future generations of farmers, and forward-looking visions for our farms.
Lee Lister, Campus Principal of Kirkley Hall Campus, said: “To host and support the Rural Design Centre’s and Northumberland County Council’s ‘Farming in a Changing Climate’ conference was both insightful and a privilege.
"I was delighted to discuss the changing political and skills landscape that is affecting both current and future practice in Agriculture and land management, particularly through the lens of skills and future workforce demands.
"Kirkley Hall has long been a bastion in Land-based education for the Northeast and it was a pleasure to meet a large volume of our alumni at the event, all with a vested interest in enhancing and future proofing agricultural practice. Northumberland College is excited to play a lead role in working with the agricultural sector to deliver this project.”
Farmers and others involved in the agricultural sector are encouraged to continue sharing their thoughts by completing a short 5–10-minute survey, available here: https://nland.cc/ruralsurvey.
The event discussions and survey results will provide critical feedback and inform future Council policies and ensure they address the specific needs of Northumberland's farming community. Responses are anonymous unless participants choose to provide their contact details.
The event is part of the "Farming in a Changing Climate" project, funded by Innovate UK. This initiative seeks to identify and find solutions to non-technical barriers to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as knowledge transfer, financial hurdles and navigating policy landscapes. Running until June 2025, the project aims to work closely with local agricultural businesses to promote resilience and long-term sustainability.
The key stakeholders will be invited for further collaboration within the next few months and throughout the course of the project.
For further information or to request the survey in an alternative format, please contact Northumberland County Council on 01661 721001 or email agriculture@northumberland.gov.uk.