Green Brexit conference, County Hall, Westminster
On 15th March our Co- Founder attended the Prosperity UK London Conference at County Hall in Westminster which brought together farmers, environmental campaigners, conservationists, agri-tech entrepreneurs, research scientists and green investors to discuss the proposition that Green Brexit represents a new era for farming, fishing and the environment.
The conference explored ‘A Green Brexit ‘ The invitation-only event discussed the opportunities and challenges which leaving the European Union creates for sustainable farming and fishing in the UK, the conservation of our countryside and protection of our environment, the UK’s international role as an environmental champion and emerging opportunities in green technology and finance.
There was a keynote address from the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuxCQQERNvg
Further contributions were from from Tony Juniper,of WWF, Professor Dieter Helm CBE (Chair, Natural Capital Commission), Rt Hon Richard Benyon MP, George Freeman MP, Zac Goldsmith MP, Kerry McCarthy MP, Philip Lymbery (CEO, Compassion in World Farming), Minette Batters, ( NFU) Matt Ridley (Columnist, The Times), James Cooper (Head of Government Affairs, Woodland Trust), David Babbs (Founder, 38 Degrees), Patrick Holden (Founding Director, Sustainable Food Foundation), Tim Breitmeyer (President, CLA) Ben Goldsmith, ( Non- Executive Director, Defra) Emma Howard Boyd( Chair of the Environment Agency)
At the seminar on ‘ The Future of land use’ our Co Founder asked how can we encourage Farmers to move away from intensive farming systems to free range systems were animals can exhibit more natural behaviours to the panel whose Speakers included Philip Lymbery of Compassion in World Farming, Derek Gow, Tim Bonner Ceo of the Countryside Alliance and James Cooper of the Woodland Trust. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCuF_mCQFrw
Our Co- founder asked the panel on the seminar’ Public money for public goods- how will it work’ if they agreed with the Conservative Animal Welfare proposal of rewarding Farmers who adopt higher animal welfare practices. This was agreed whole heatedly by Helen Browning of the Soil Association. The panel included Tim Breitmeyer, President of the CLA, Alastair Driver of Rewilding and Bright Blue and was chaired by Ben Goldsmith. watch the session here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIfme_-PuMw
Our patron Zac goldsmith MP sat on the panel exploring the role of Government in restoring natural capital.
Compassion in World Farming had a stand at the conference featuring literature calling for an end to intensive industrial farming and for kinder free range systems for farm animals.
