NFU25: See our 2025 NFU Conference programme

27 November 2024

The outside of the QEII building

The NFU's annual conference takes place at the QEII Centre in London on 25 February 2025 with expert sessions exploring our theme, ‘Food & Farming: The Seeds of Growth’.

Food & Farming: The Seeds of Growth

We have a packed day of sessions at NFU Conference this year, featuring keynote speeches from industry leaders and political heavyweights.

Have a look at the programme below to see how we’ll be discussing the future of agriculture and horticulture.

#NFU25: Get involved on social media

Share your views and experiences with fellow farmers and growers online by using the #NFU25 hashtag on your social media platforms, and tagging us in your posts.
 
We will be posting on Twitter (@NFUTweets) and Instagram (@NFULife) during NFU Conference so follow us and make sure you've turned your notifications on to stay up to date.

The programme

  • 8.30 - 10.00 – registration
  • 10.00 – conference starts
  • 6pm – conference ends

What's on in the morning?

Opening address

Tom Bradshaw, President, NFU


Keynote address

The Rt Hon Steve Reed OBE MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Chaired by: Tom Bradshaw, NFU President


Session 1: Science and technology to grow

Professor Michael Lee, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Harper Adams University
Phil Bicknell, CEO, UK Agri-Tech Centre
Questions

Chaired by: Aled Jones, NFU Cymru President


Session 2: Export to grow

Sandra Sullivan MBE, Director, Food & Drink Exporters Association
Richard Clothier, Managing Director, Wyke Farms
Government spokesperson
Questions

Chaired by: David Exwood, NFU Deputy President


Lunch


What's on in the afternoon?

Session 3: Skills and investment to grow

Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Executive, CBI
Angus Davison, Chairman, Haygrove Ltd
Questions

Chaired by: Rachel Hallos, NFU Vice-President


Henry Plumb Lecture

Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies
Questions

Chaired by: Terry Jones, NFU Director General


Closing address

Tom Bradshaw, President, NFU


Followed by: Optional networking session