SCOTLAND’S FARMERS face opportunities and challenges as they look towards farming on the world stage – and both will come under scrutiny when the 14th Farming Scotland Conference rolls into Carnoustie next month.

The conference, hosted and sponsored by EQ Accountants, Bell Ingram, Thorntons Solicitors and The Royal Bank of Scotland, has become a key point in the agricultural calendar for farmers and their advisors, and the 2017 event is set to be the most important thus far.

Conference chairman, EQ's Graeme Davidson, said: “There is no doubt that our conference is now regarded as a must-attend by agricultural professionals from throughout Scotland.

“For 2017 we are very conscious that domestic and European political and economic uncertainty continue to dominate the sector. We have, therefore, set the conference horizons wider, and will look beyond Europe to examine the potential opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as Scottish agriculture faces up to the rest of the world.”

AHDB Potatoes strategy director Rob Clayton, ScotGov deputy director for agriculture and rural development Trudi Sharp, Aldi fresh meat buying director Marion MacCormick, and Hertfordshire farmer Ian Pigott are the four speakers who will address conference delegates at the Carnoustie Golf Hotel on February 2.

Mr Pigott, known for his regular contributions to the farming media, is a passionate believer in countryside education, and takes the view that if young people are given a better understanding of where their food comes from they will, in turn, have an increased commitment to purchasing British produce and perhaps consider a career in the agri-food sector.

“There is every likelihood that post Brexit, farmers in Scotland, as elsewhere in Britain, are likely to face increased competition from imported food and drink," he said. "Such imports, may or may not be of similar quality provenance to our British produce or even that from continental Europe.

“We have diversified our family farm, which is only 20 miles from the centre of London, to develop a dedicated Farm School education centre. In 2015 we hosted over 3500 children through our education programme and over 3000 visitors of all ages to our Open Farm Sunday. I believe everyone up and down the supply chain can do something to reconnect, educate and communicate with the British public whenever and wherever they can," he said.

“Scotland is renowned for its quality food and drink, and indeed for education programmes such as RHET. But I want to challenge the conference – will this reputation and current levels of consumer awareness be enough to shield Scottish farmers from the global marketplace?”

This theme of meeting consumer expectations will be further examined by Aldi's Ms MacCormick, whilst Mr Clayton will focus on the challenges faced by potato growers “in an Island nation.” Ms Sharp is set to give the government policy input to conference.

A new conference website is up and running ahead of the 2017 event to allow delegates to book tickets online. Business Angus, the local enterprise initiative, will once again provide funding for local young agricultural business people to attend.