The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) in Scotland has announced a new conference that will explore sustainable solutions to the challenges Scottish agriculture is facing.

The ‘Farm to fork – a new, sustainable perspective’ conference will take place on March 23, at Bowhouse, in Fife, hosted by RBST in partnership with Balcaskie Estate. Speakers and delegates will consider and discuss key challenges and opportunities in the transition to a future for Scottish farming where environmental sustainability goes hand in hand with food production.

The programme will feature high profile expert speakers and panellists, including Christopher Price (RBST), Ceri Ritchie (SAC Consulting), David McKay (Soil Association), Prof Tim Morris (RBST), Johnnie Balfour (Pasture Fed Livestock Association), Roger Baird (Scottish Organic Producers Association), Adam Forrest (Scotland Food and Drink), with more speakers to be announced.

RBST's vice-president in Scotland, Martin Beard, said: “Changes to policy direction and consumer trends will increasingly require Scottish agriculture to put environmental sustainability at the core of food production, and it is vital that we identify the best sustainable solutions for the challenges we face. RBST Scotland believes that our native breeds of farm livestock can play a crucial part in finding those solutions.

“The conference programme will allow us to explore together themes ranging from soil health, carbon and biodiversity to marketing and future-proofing Scottish farming. As well as expert knowledge and valuable insights from the speakers and panellists, there will be opportunities for discussion and debate.


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“In 2023, we are marking the 50th anniversary of RBST’s formation, and examining the coming decades for Scottish farming by coming together at the Farm to Fork conference is particularly fitting. This is a definitive event for anyone with an interest in a sustainable and profitable future for agriculture in Scotland, tickets are now open and I recommend booking your place early so that you don’t miss out.”

The event will be chaired by Claire Saunders, RBST trustee and chair of RBST’s conservation and research committee. It will cover six main themes:

• Future proofing farming: looking to 2040

• Soil: rebuilding fertility

• Biodiversity: reclaiming the balance

• Carbon: the way forward

• The livestock food chain: room for improvement

• Farmers as marketers: adding value

The conference tickets are £30 plus VAT and can be booked at https://rbstscotland.org/conference-tickets