Part of 'The Future is in Our Lands' IPR Public Lecture series.

Brexit, and the potential departure from the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), could provide an opportunity to transform the UK farming and food system. But how can we ensure that the way we grow, distribute and eat food provides healthy and affordable nutrition whilst restoring ecosystems and improving the livelihoods of farmers? What does the future of British farming look like? And how can we measure and value sustainability and soil, plant and animal health, whilst at the same time protecting our farmers and farming communities as well as our environment?

This panel debate welcomes Patrick Holden (Sustainable Food Trust), Joanna Lewis (Soil Association), Jo Edwards (Castle Farm Organics), Phil Stocker (National Sheep Association), and Jack Farmer (LettUs Grow) to address such questions, and look to the future of UK farming and food production.

Speaker biographies

Patrick Holden is the founding director of the Sustainable Food Trust, working internationally to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable food systems.

Joanna Lewis is Policy and Strategy Director at the Soil Association, leading the policy unit and the development of their strategy in support of their vision of good food for all, produced with care for the natural world.

Jo Edwards is a farmer at Castle Farm Organics, a local, organic farm which uses traditional low intensity farming methods.

Jack Farmer is Co-Founder and Operations Lead at LettUs Grow, a diverse team of caring, environmentally-conscious plant scientists, developers, creatives, and engineers whose novel technology represents a step-change for indoor farms. LettUs Grow have received expert business advice in both our Sustainable Technologies and Digital Innovation Business Acceleration Hubs.

Phil Stocker is Chief Executive of the National Sheep Association (NSA), leading the UK’s specialist membership organisation for those interested in sheep and sheep farming.