Shuttleworth Lecture

Join us for the 2023 Shuttleworth Lecture, where we are delighted to welcome DEFRA Minister, The Rt. Hon. Mark Spencer MP as our guest speaker.

Date– 11th May 2023

Time– 7.30pm

Location– Shuttleworth College- Old Warden Park, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 9DX

Tickets– Book your tickets by clicking here

FREE tickets for East of England Agricultural Society members (please use your membership number – found on your 2023 membership card, to claim your full discount). Students currently studying at Shuttleworth College who wish to attend please register your place with the College Vice-Principal.

Non-members there is a £10 ticket charge.

All tickets include a glass of wine or soft drink after the lecture.

About the event-

With recent announcement of changes to payments on the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) many feel there is still more clarity required on the regime to pay farmers for “public goods” such as healthy soils, habitat creation and clean water.

It is timely therefore this year’s Shuttleworth Lecture guest speaker is the DEFRA Minister for Food, Farming & Fisheries, The Hon. Mark Spencer MP. Who will be back at his former college for the evening though this time on the lecture platform rather listening to a student lecture.

The Shuttleworth Lecture is an evening where you can join other East of England Agricultural Society members, college students and the local farming community to hear from and pose questions directly to the DEFRA Minister about current events that affect their businesses and futures.

Minister Spencer has been quoted that ELMS were still the flagship measure in the government’s agriculture policy.

“As custodians of more than 70% of our countryside, the nation is relying on its farmers to protect our landscapes as well as produce the high-quality food we are known for, and we are increasing payment rates to ensure farmers are not out of pocket for doing the right thing by the environment,” he said.

“By increasing the investment in these schemes, I want farmers to see this stacks up for business – whatever the size of your holding.”

As UK agriculture is amid unprecedented turmoil in the sector, driven by the cost of living crisis, soaring energy and fertiliser prices, the impact of Covid-19 and Brexit – join us for the evening.