Newcastle University scoops Young Advocates Award

Two students from Newcastle University have won this year’s Young Advocates for Agriculture in a keenly fought debating competition held at the Farmers & Fletchers Livery Hall on Thursday 6th October. Presenting the prizes, the Minister for Agriculture and Food, the Rt Hon Jim Paice MP, expressed his admiration for all the young agriculturalists taking part in the debates and encouraged them to continue their interest in current farming issues and the development of their public speaking skills.

“Farming today requires high technical skills as much as practical ones,” he said. “Gone are the days when farming was a job for the unskilled – now we need to encourage the very best young people, with multiple skills, to enter the industry.”

Newcastle’s Aimee-Rose Sharp and Charlotte Flint opposed the motion “this house believes that global free trade is good for British Farming” and made a forceful argument instead for a global trading environment that acknowledged the high standards and regulatory framework British farmers adhere to. Their use of humour, rhetoric and carefully researched statistics won them the Young Advocates for Agriculture trophy, a cash prize and a day’s media training with the well-known broadcaster Tom Heap, a regular contributor to BBC’s Panorama and BBC Radio 4’s flagship series Costing the Earth. They will be joined on the media training day by Kerry Jerman and Faye Herdman, from Aberystwyth University, runners-up in the competition.

An audience of industry leaders, farmers and agricultural students was clearly entertained by the lively debates and speeches from the floor. Judges Simon Walters, the Political Editor of the Mail on Sunday, Richard Brooks, a Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers, and Angharad Evans, a member of last year’s winning team, listened carefully as motions focussing on the importance of wildlife and the relationship between British farmers and their customers were also debated. Speaking on behalf of the Judges, Simon Walters, noted both the oratory skills and the ability of the young agriculturalists to take on complex industry issues and present persuasive arguments.

Established to encourage new voices in agriculture and give young people a platform to debate the current issues that will affect the future of the food and farming industry, Young Advocates for Agriculture is the brainchild of Jim Williams from the National Farm Research Unit and David Bolton from David Bolton Partners. Young Advocates for Agriculture is sponsored b the Worshipful Company of Farmers.

“Whether it is the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, the case for genetically modified crops or the opportunities from scale of a super dairy, it is important that we identify and encourage those who will be responsible for the future success of the farming industry to take up the key arguments for our industry and carry them to a wider public,” said Jim Williams.

Next year’s competition will take place on October 4th 2012 and entries are being encouraged from both agricultural students and those working within the industry under the age of 25.

For more information on how to enter Young Advocates for Agriculture visit www.youngadvocates.co.uk or email Jacqui Freeman on youngadvocates@btinternet.com.

1. Debating Teams

Newcastle University, University of Reading, Royal Agricultural College, Aberystwyth University, Bishop Burton College and the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.

 

2. Judges

• Simon Watlers: Political Editor of the Mail on Sunday

• Richard Brooks: Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Farmers

• Angharad Evans: member of last years winning team (RAC) and now working for DHL Agri-Food.

 

3. Debates

This house believes that British Farmers need to get closer to their customers

Propose: Bishop Burton College

Oppose:Aberystwyth University

This house believes that Global free trade is good for British Farming

Propose: National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs

Oppose:Newcastle University

This house believes that wildlife must come second place to the imperative for food production

Propose:Royal Agricultural College

Oppose:University of Reading