The move may be towards larger agricultural units, and a split between the landowner and the person doing the farming, but that doesn't mean the family farm has nothing more to give.

NFU President Peter Kendall used a breakfast session at the Oxford Farming Conference to give his thoughts on the event's centrepiece 'Opportunity Agriculture' research.

"The drive for people to farm bigger units can be met by the resilience of family farms," he said.

"Our families can drive the future."

Delegates heard yesterday how a mindset closed to new business structures, limited collaboration and a lack of investment on infrastructure are stopping UK farming meet its potential. With more change likely in the sector's next ten years than in the previous 50, a new outlook was needed, said report author Ian Ashbridge of Bidwells.

'Sustainable farming must see the same emphasis on increasing productivity as the environment' - OFC14 report author Ian Ashbridge

And although he told delegates that his report foresaw larger units, new structures and a divergence between landowners and those who farm the land, he agreed the outlook for the family farm could still be positive.

Mr Ashbridge said: "We believe there will be significant opportunities for more flexible, professional and well- organised family farm businesses to meet demand from new investors.

"There will be a divergence between those owning land and farming it, but there is no reason why family farm businesses cannot be at the heart of UK agriculture in 2024, although the structures may have to change."

  • What do you think the future holds for family farms? Let us know using the feedback function at the bottom of the page.
The Opportunity Agriculture report in brief - how might things look in 2024. Structures
  • flexible, professional and well-organised farming businesses will find more opportunities thanks to increasing numbers of outside investors.
  • the traditional definition of a farmer will change as professional farming operations grow and become more technically advanced. We will see a generation of farm 'business managers more like chief executives' who may access share packages in the business.
  • bigger farm businesses will encourage higher levels of business management and leadership
  • share farming agreements should increase. Ian Ashbridge said: "Share farming represents one, largely overlooked opportunity to develop new farm businesses. Contract farming and share farming as it operates in New Zealand, where landowner and farmers, share in the total profits can be extremely effective."
Investment
  • more investment will be needed in farm infrastructure
  • access to water will become more important 'Access to water in 2024 will be as important as access to oil today. Water the largest limiting factor, even in Europe'
  • farmers must become less wary of outside investors and there will be a far greater variety of investors.
  • producer power will grow as they work more closely with retailers, packers and processors
  • farmers will have to become more efficient as the agri-food supply chain becomes more efficient
  • UK knowledge and expertise risk being lost overseas
  • European policy risks inhibiting UK agriculture's long-term competitiveness
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