NSA Sheep 2012 attracts record turnout

NSA Sheep 2012, the sector’s biennial premier business to business event staged at Malvern on Wednesday 4 July was hailed a resounding success attracting a record turnout of over 11,000 visitors doing business with 250 exhibitors.

NSA Sheep 2012 crowds

The event was opened by chief government scientist, Sir John Beddington who argued that its theme, sustainable intensification, was essential for the industry’s future. “Rapidly increasing world populations and the need for more food and energy means farmers will have to produce more food from the same land more efficiently, however in practical terms, it will be down to the industry itself and to develop partnerships with government,” he said.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker commented: “Sir John’s involvement is so relevant at a time when we are facing CAP reform that urgently needs to start to take account of society’s needs of feeding a growing and increasingly urban society within a world where resources are becoming more volatile and the impacts of climate change already being experienced. Sheep farming will play an important part in the future with sheep being the ultimate in ‘renewable technology’ providing meat, fibre and soil fertility from little more than grass.”

He added: “NSA Sheep 2012 reflected the sustained optimism and buoyancy that is now evident in the UK sheep industry. Record numbers attended from right across the UK and beyond, they ignored the rain and muddy conditions, and trade stands reported good business and interest. NSA also attracted a record number of new members. There is clearly much interest in taking the sheep industry forward and adopting new technologies and approaches within all the traditionalism that exists.”