WORLD-leading experts will deliver a series of seminars exploring current industry issues at this year’s National Beef Association annual Beef Expo.

The speakers will touch on sustainable beef production and its benefits to human health, future government support for agriculture, and animal welfare.

This year’s NBA Beef Expo takes place on Saturday, May 28 at Darlington Farmers Auction Mart.

Also included in the expert panel are Will Jackson, strategy director for beef and lamb at AHDB; independent livestock sustainability consultant Dr. Jude Capper; Sarah Tomlinson, MRCVS, technical director for the TB Advisory service and a member of the bTB Partnership; Sophie Throup, Head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Sustainable Sourcing for Wm Morrison PLC; Boehringer Ingelheim’s Ruminant Veterinary Adviser, Kath Aplin.

“Our industry is subject to endless scrutiny and challenges – and rightly so – with regard to sustainable food production and dietary requirements,” commented Neil Shand, CEO of the NBA.

“This year’s seminars aim to provide an insight into both the benefits of red meat as an essential part of a balanced diet and address environmental advances in production. Our speakers will be giving their views on several topics including an overview on sustainable purchasing, retail goals for net zero, and improvement of health and welfare in the national herd, and the value of food security. We will also welcome a representative from the Shadow Agriculture department to discuss Labour’s ambitions for future support.

“This year’s seminars are set to be informative and debate setting, and we are very much looking forward to welcoming all of our speakers to the rostrum.”

The first seminar on ‘Future Agriculture Support’ will have a keynote speaker from AHDB, as well as John Powell, head of agricultural sectors at Defra, and MP Daniel Zeichner, who currently serves on the Opposition frontbench as Shadow Minister for Food, Farming, Fisheries and Rural Affairs.

Mr Zeichner said: “Beef farmers face a perfect storm of uncertainty, with changes to support payments, rising fuel and input costs, homegrown red tape, and concerns over trade deals.”