Two seminars at this year's Borderway Agri Expo feature outstanding speakers, including noted influencer Tom Pemberton, sharing their expertise in building a sustainable farming future and tackling the important issue of farm succession.

The UK's premiere livestock event of the Autumn, Borderway Agri Expo has grown into one of the most important platforms for the sharing of best practice, cutting edge expertise and innovation in the agricultural calendar. At this year's event on Friday 1^st November, packed audiences are expected to attend the seminars focusing on vital issues of concern to the livestock and wider farming industry, The Future of Farming & Food Production and Succession Planning & Intergenerational Farming.

Hosted by H&H Land & Estates in conjunction with the event's organisers, Harrison & Hetherington, the morning's seminar will be an open discussion focussing on The Future of Farming & Food Production, highlighting the positive strides farming must take towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future and changing priorities in consumer demand. 

This first seminar will cover the changes taking place in farming in the UK's drive to meet ambitious carbon targets, and the ways farmers are using this environmental goal to improve efficiency and productivity in their farming businesses. Chaired by H&H Land & Estate's Chartered Surveyor & Environment Advisor , Nick Mullins, the panel of speakers will include Standhill Farm's Jim Shanks, whose range of diversified enterprises including Anaerobic Digestion, Biomass systems, and glasshouse tomato growing has made this family farm in the Borders one of the most sustainable models of food production in the world. 

Tom Hargreaves, Fresh Produce Buyer at Booths, a family owned and operated independent supermarket with 26 stores across the North West, will explain consumer preferences for high quality, local meat, and the growing focus on health, taste and ethical concerns, and Colin Bateman, Beef and Lamb Sector Chair at AHDB and a Main Board Non-Executive Director, will offer his insights into the current market trends.

The afternoon seminar on Succession Planning & Intergenerational Farming at 2.30pm, will cover the planning essential for the passing of any viable farming business from one generation to the next. Chair, H&H Land & Estates Associate Director, Jonathan Hird, will open the session with a brief introduction to the critical importance of legal and tax planning for intergenerational farming businesses. The panel of speakers include Tom Pemberton, one of the UK's most successful agricultural Youtubers and social media influencers, who is diversifying the family farm in partnership with his father for a sustainable and profitable future.

Tom will be joined by a panel of land agency, legal, and tax experts, including Emma Armstrong, Senior Associate in the Family Team, who will outline the legal frameworks for farm succession to protect family assets and avoid family disputes, and Victoria Ivinson, Partner & Chartered Accountant at EQ Accountants  will delve into the key concepts of succession planning, the tools available to farmers to allow for transfer of assets and wealth, and how tax planning can help families minimise the financial burden when transferring estates across generations.

Both Seminars will offer opportunities for questions from the floor and will be presented in a debate format encouraging discussion around these critical topics, says Tim Sedgewick.

"We are very grateful to have expert speakers who have agreed to come and share their expertise and experience with our visitors at Borderway on November 1^st.  Through these seminars we are highlighting important matters for farmers, and through discussion and debate we will be encouraging full participation to explore these issues as thoroughly as we can."

Established in 2007, Borderway Agri Expo is renowned as the UK's largest livestock showcase, with a packed schedule throughout the day including the ultra-competitive livestock classes, breed society shows and agricultural competitions. Agri Expo is a platform for the sharing of best practice, innovation and new technology, and the Seminars offer a forum for the presentation and debate of key challenges facing the industry today.