Grosvenor Farms believes farming can ditch its subsidy tag

Grosvenor Farms believes farming can ditch its subsidy tag and be a “contributor not a drain” on the public purse, but that a poor Brexit deal could diminish expansion within the agriculture sector.

This Thursday (6th August) at 12noon, Mark Roach, Managing Director at Grosvenor Farms will join the Oxford Farming Conference Bitesize series to discuss the future of agriculture, why he believes the Irish dairy industry is a success story the UK should learn from, and how farming can be a contributor, not a drain, on the public finances.

The commercial farming enterprise produces 90,000 litres of fresh milk daily with 2,500 cows, and grows 6000 acres of crops with 11% of the total land area managed to benefit the environment and biodiversity.

Mr Roach will address the “triple challenge” – how to feed a growing and more affluent world population, whilst simultaneously protecting and enhancing the natural environment, and making a profit.

With a favourable Brexit, Mr Roach believes the agricultural industry will be dynamic, viable and resilient but, if the trade and regulatory framework goes against the sector, he believes the UK will struggle to be globally competitive and the case for expansion in agriculture will diminish.

During his presentation he will tell viewers:

“I still think there are people in parts of government and elsewhere who believe agriculture is an inefficient industry, reliant on subsidy and a drain on the public purse. However, I feel if we can get the framework right, I am confident agriculture can be a force for good, a force for UK plc.

“We can increase our market share domestically and further ahead internationally, and if we can do that, we can create wealth, we can create employment. We can therefore pay more taxes, reduce the balance of payments, deficit on food, and become more food sufficient with greater food security. I think that is the opportunity that lies ahead.”

He will reflect on the Irish dairy industry which has doubled its milk output since it abolished milk quotas in 2015, whilst delivering a higher real price to its dairy farmers. He will reference their strong stakeholder alignment, export market, and their positive contribution to the country's economic impact.

Mr Roach will be joined by Arable Manager, Charlie Steer, who will demonstrate the business’s vision for a circular farming model. Grosvenor Farms has already reduced their carbon footprint for milk by 33% and, in time, plan for their dairy enterprise to be carbon neutral.

Grosvenor Farms is one of the UK’s largest investors in agriculture and through their work with Cogent, which pioneered the commercialisation of sexed semen technology, they are at the forefront of innovation and expansion.

To watch the session back, click here