Blog: How seeing Lidl's Grassroots Farming Conference inspired Maisie

As a final year BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Farm Business Management student, Maisie passionate about the farming industry. So she describes the chance to attend the Lidl Grassroots Conference, recently held at Harper Adams University, as an inspiring experience – as it highlighted Lidl’s commitment to investing in British agriculture. In this guest blog, she reflects on the conference - and on the supply chain from field to fork.

It was encouraging to see a retailer actively engaging with the agricultural sector and fostering connections between farmers, suppliers, and retailers.

The conference featured insightful discussions on sustainability, supply chain resilience, and the future of British farming. It was fascinating to hear from industry experts about the innovative approaches being implemented to ensure a more sustainable food system. The emphasis Lidl placed on supporting local farmers and reducing environmental impact demonstrated their dedication to long-term agricultural success.

The chance to engage with like-minded individuals, including farmers, students, and professionals, provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from others’ experiences. Witnessing individuals from the pork, dairy and beef sector come together was beneficial as allowed for cross-sector learning about successes and threats of each one faces.

Reflecting on my own journey, my placement year at Cranswick provided me with invaluable insights into the pig industry. During my 15 months with the company’s Agri team, I witnessed the entire fork to fork process, involving myself in many projects and contributing to sustainability initiatives. This included carbon footprint data collection and biodiversity policy development, which were topics discussed at the conference.

This experience broadened my understanding of the challenges within the supply chain and the importance of collaboration between producers and retailers. It was rewarding to see Lidl’s commitment to sustainability align with the work I was involved in at Cranswick.

As I prepare to return to Cranswick, I am eager to apply the knowledge gained from both my placement and this conference to contribute further to the sector. Events like these are crucial in bridging the gap between producers and retailers, ensuring that British agriculture continues to thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace.

The conference reinforced my appreciation for the role retailers play in shaping the agricultural landscape. Seeing Lidl invest in British agriculture through initiatives like the Grassroots Conference reassured me that the future of farming not being neglected. Their focus on sustainable sourcing and collaboration with farmers echoes the industry-wide push for responsible food production.