Devon County Show - CLA Press release: Solving global problems at a local level - major debate planned

Food and water shortages coupled with insufficient energy could unleash a ‘perfect storm’ of civil unrest according to a recently published report – and at next week’s Devon County Show a panel of experts will try to answer whether local solutions can help solve such global problems.

 The CLA Breakfast Debate, titled “Global Problems – Local Solutions” is being organised by the CLA in conjunction with the show and will provide the curtain raiser on the opening day of the show at Westpoint, Exeter.

Novelist and writer Graham Harvey,  CLA Policy Director, Prof. Allan Buckwell, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Strategic Planning, Will Mumford and Merlin Hyman, Chief executive of Regen South West will join James Del Mar, of Knight Frank and Philip Wolfgang, of Michelmores, on the CLA Question Time panel.

CLA South West Director, John Mortimer, said: “The Foresight Report stated that a sustainable intensification of global agriculture would be required to meet the food and environmental challenges facing the world – but we think there’s another issue, which is to do with people accepting that attitudes to food waste also need to change.

“We hope the audience will set the panel some tough questions. We want to hear their views on how we should set about producing more food with a smaller environmental footprint - and whether livestock farming really is the villain of global warming.”

Mr Mortimer said that the Coalition Government’s Localism Agenda proposed returning power to the people - but although options were now available for converting food waste to power via Anaerobic Digestion, the question was whether such proposals would get through a new localised planning system.

“It’s a big agenda – but we want to bring vision and balance to the debate and, at the same time, raise public awareness of the issues and influences which may inform the decisions of the future,” he said.

Devon Show Secretary, Ollie Allan, said: One of the great things about agricultural shows is that they provide an ideal platform for those involved in the industry to talk about the really important issues of the moment – and there can be few issues facing our land managers which are more important than these.

“The Show and the CLA have a long track record of working together and we both want to use the Show to give farmers the chance to hear from people who are involved with the issues at the sharp end.”

Admission to the event, which is sponsored by Michelmores and Knight Frank, is by ticket only and these are available to members of the CLA and their guests or to members of the DCAA.

To apply for a ticket contact the CLA on 01249 700213 or email edwina.brown@cla.org.uk.

Note to Newsdesks:

Journalists are invited to join us at the Devon Show for the CLA Breakfast Debate: “Global Problems – Local Solutions” on Thursday 19 May 8.00 for 8.30 am in the Vice-President’s Marquee within the Members’ Area but advance booking is essential.

For further information on this press release, please contact Paul Millard CLA SW Communications Manager on 01380 830179 or 07831 674345

For further information on the CLA go to www.cla.org.uk