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SAC Students Active at The Oxford Conference

SAC students made full use of the opportunity offered by their visit to the recent Oxford Farming Conference.

While former student and entrepreneur Gregor Mackintosh impressed delegates with details of his innovative food business, Ian Christie and Lynne Smith, two third year Agriculture students took the chance to network with some of the nations farming leaders. Ian even asked EU Farm Commissioner Dacian Ciolos a question from the floor.

The two day annual Oxford Conference is a key date in the farming calendar, attracting agri politicians and leading industry figures from around the world. Held during the first week in January, in the marble splendour of the Oxford University Examination Schools, it can be an intimidating venue.  The very strong 2011 line up included speeches by new DEFRA Minister Caroline Spelman MP, George Lyon MEP, and Irish Farm Minister Brendan Smith TD. There were detailed papers from bankers, international businessmen and market leaders. Farm Commissioner Ciolos closed proceedings by outlining his proposals for CAP reform.  

Ian Christie and Lynne Smith were attending as “Scholars”, sponsored by SAC and joining others supported by various companies and institutions. Ian, studying at Aberdeen, described his visit to Oxford as brilliant.

“We discussed food security, environmental policy, GM crops, CAP reform post-2013 and the challenges posed by a rising global population. These discussions were very thought-provoking. I asked Commissioner Ciolos  ‘How young entrants can be encouraged into Agriculture if historical payments continue post 2013?’ I asked this as I believe the SFP, given on an historical basis, is the largest barrier to the growth of small businesses and to the entrance of young people into Agriculture. His reply showed he had some empathy for small producers and young entrants. He also stated that the single farm payment would have to be capped, streaming more money towards young entrants and new business start-ups within the Agricultural industry”. 

For Ayr based Student Lynne Smith the Conference was a fantastic way to kick off 2011.

“This year its headline was “inform, inspire, challenge”, which it has done, leaving me with a more positive attitude towards farming in this country. Getting to meet Princess Anne on Wednesday afternoon was a treat and let me see that agriculture in this country is still important. Wednesday evening’s Oxford Union debate, entitled “This house believes unrestrained population growth and food security are incompatible” was very enjoyable and added to my knowledge of the subject. The conference finished on Thursday on a high by hearing from three entrepreneurs and gave us a feeling that anything is possible if you work hard enough!

Among those entrepreneurs was Gregor McIntosh from Aberdeenshire. Speaking with the Princess Royal and EU Commissioner in the audience, he explained how he had turned an Honours dissertation at SAC Aberdeen into a growing food business. Paying tribute to the support he had received from SAC experts and the Princes Trust, Gregor also appealed to Government not to cut the Enterprise network that had done so much to help start up businesses like his.

Thanking SAC for the opportunity the students urged others apply for a “scholars “ entry for next years conference and also gain from what they found to be a rewarding and inspiring experience. 

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