The level to which farms in Scotland can innovate in the future will determine how successful they will be. This was one of the key messages to come out of the ninth annual Farming Scotland Conference, held at Carnoustie on 2 February 2012.

Co-sponsored by EQ, the conference was again a resounding success, and provided a platform for four speakers to present their views on the agriculture sector.

Dale Andrew from the Environment Division of the OECD in Paris opened the conference and explained the Green Growth Strategy formulated and promoted by the OECD, against the backdrop of the challenges facing world food production over the next forty years. He suggested that “business as usual” was not an option. Innovation will be required to achieve enhanced productivity and access new markets.

Alan Renwick developed the theme of innovation and gave it a Scottish context. Alan is Head of the Land Economy and Environment Research Group at SAC, and his presentation looked at Sustainable Intensification. Farm cropping yields have flat-lined in Scotland over the past decade. Change is therefore required to meet the challenges going forward, with a potential key element being a shift in policy to promote innovation not form filling.

The marketing of commodities, specifically potatoes, was the focus of a presentation from Caroline Evans, Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at the Potato Council. Caroline illustrated the added value that can be obtained from effective marketing, and again stressed the need for innovation and product development to get best value from agriculture produce.

Our final speaker was James Down, Farmers Weekly “Young Farmer of the Year 2011”. James explained how his farming business in Somerset has evolved over the past thirty years since his parents started out. The business has never made a loss or borrowed money, while expanding considerably over that period. James clearly demonstrated his business approach to every aspect of the farms operations and should be an inspiration to many farmers.

Speaking afterwards Keith Hopkins, Partner in EQ and chairman of the conference said “it has been a very interesting conference, with plenty for delegates to take back to their own farms or working lives. We’re already planning next year’s conference and look forward to seeing many delegates back again for what will be our tenth year.”