As Ali Capper enters her final term as a director of the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), the fruit and hop grower emphasizes the need to leave behind nostalgic views of agriculture and adopt a more business-oriented approach.

Capper has expressed cautious optimism about the new government, noting that Sir Keir Starmer's cabinet shows ‘good potential’ for fostering growth and adopting a more practical stance on seasonal workers, who are essential to the UK’s harvest, particularly in the fruit and vegetable sectors.

The Migration Advisory Committee, which advises the government on immigration, has echoed longstanding industry calls for stability in the Seasonal Workers Scheme (SWS). Their recent report advocates for more clarity and certainty on visa allocations, supporting the National Farmers’ Union’s push for a rolling five-year program.

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“A move away from a hard right immigration policy is very welcome.” Capper said.

“This new Government’s outlook towards seasonal labour seems much more common sense. The bottom line is we can’t pick fruit and vegetables without hands and anything that makes getting those workers out in the field must be good news.”

The OFC has long been a key platform for Secretaries of State and Shadow Ministers to address the agricultural sector. Defra Secretary Steve Reed attended the conference in January while still in opposition, signalling the importance of the event.

Capper, who manages her family's fruit and hop farm in Worcestershire and serves as a member of the NFU Mutual Board and chair of British Apples and Pears, is also advocating for the new administration to improve border operations and the UK's relationship with the EU.

“The border operating models we have at the moment are not working and it needs sorting out to encourage growth in trade.” she stated.

With Britain only 40% self-sufficient in apple and pear production, Capper believes that with the right investment, through grants, tax incentives, labour accessibility, and research and innovation, the UK could significantly increase its self-sufficiency, potentially doubling it.

Capper first attended the OFC in 2017 as a speaker and quickly became a fan of the event, which she believes offers valuable opportunities for dialogue and fresh perspectives.

Regarding the future of British agriculture, Capper insists that the industry must present itself more professionally to attract investment.

“My sector of farming has been largely unsubsidised through the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and has had to plough its own furrow through challenges such as covid and the recent unprecedented inflation. Profit is not a dirty word, and this is something that government needs to recognise across all farming sectors. The bottom line is if you are not making a profit, you can’t reinvest in growing your business.

“Farming is rightly proud of its history and heritage but to remain viable it needs to take its rose-tinted spectacles off about the past and focus on the future.”

OFC chair Geoff Sansome noted that ‘it will be interesting’ to see which of Capper’s recommendations are implemented, particularly as he monitors the new Labour administration's progress in its first 100 days.

“Steve Reed spoke back in January at OFC 2024 and said that ‘food security is national security’ and has also recently committed to continuing with Environmental Land Management incentives.

Geoff adds: “There is a more nuanced debate to be had about food security, where in many sectors we are well supplied, compared to other sectors such as fruit and vegetables where there is an opportunity to improve. It’s not as simple as increasing self-sufficiency across the board. We have many competing government priorities for land use; food production, energy and housing being the major ones.

“We need a government that will back our farmers, provide a framework to inform those competing demands for land use, but not back track from the environmental incentives that will help deliver for biodiversity, clean air and water which underpin food production and deliver for climate change.

“The OFC is one of those rare places where Ministers can be held to account for their promises within an audience that is leading the sector, a network of influential people that will keep asking for change if they don’t see it forthcoming. The conference delegates really do represent the ‘who’s who’ in British agriculture, which is why Ministers, and their shadows always welcome the chance to address our event.”

The Oxford Farming Conference will take place from January 8 - 10, 2025.