Farmers, industry leaders and policymakers will gather in North Wales next month for NFU Cymru’s annual Sustainable Farming Conference, which aims to highlight the sector’s vital role in food production, environmental care and rural community leadership.

The event will be held on Wednesday, September 3 at Ffrith Farm, Mold, by kind permission of the Swan family. The 250-acre mixed farm will host a day of expert-led sessions, a farm walk and a tour of the family-run farm shop, which has been selling home-produced beef, pork and free-range eggs since 2003.

Titled ‘Growing Forward – Advances in Sustainable Farming’, the conference will bring together some of the UK’s leading voices in agricultural research and rural policy.

Speakers will include Professor Iain Donnison, Head of the Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences (IBERS); Dr Alastair Leake, Director of Policy at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust; and Professor Janet Dwyer of the University of Gloucestershire’s Countryside and Community Research Institute.

Supply chain perspectives will also be shared by Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture at M&S Food; Dr Julie Finch, Agriculture Governance & Compliance Manager at Kepak Group; and Ben Williams, Sustainability Manager at Leprino.

Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Economy, Energy and Rural Affairs Samuel Kurtz MS is also due to speak, setting out his party’s vision for sustainable farming in Wales.

A grassroots farmer panel will round off the day, featuring host farmer Ed Swan, beef and sheep farmer Jessica Williams, NFU Cymru Livestock Champion Mathew Roberts, and dairy farmer and Clwyd County Chair David Williams.

The event is free to NFU Cymru members and stakeholders, and lunch will be provided. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance and notify organisers of any dietary requirements.

For more details, including a profile of the host farm, visit the NFU Cymru website or call 01982 554200.