Grain Market Outlook Conference: Managing risk and looking ahead to new demand

Managing risk and looking ahead to new demand, in a year of cost challenges.

This year has brought some of the most challenging circumstances the domestic grain supply chain has seen for decades. Rising energy costs, and the impact on fertiliser cost, poses a threat to domestic grain and oilseed production.

With the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine, price volatility in global grain and oilseed markets has heightened. Which, while costs remain high too, makes decision making in the domestic grain supply chain very difficult.

This year’s Grain Market Outlook (GMO) conference aims to prepare the UK grain and oilseed supply chain for another season of challenges by providing insight into the direction of domestic grain and rapeseed prices.

The event will also allow for discussion around demand in the industry, where are these demand centres? As well as facilitating discussion around understanding the challenges of climate change and opportunities in carbon markets.

We look forward to seeing you there on the day, with this event being in-person. This event has moved out of London this year to Grantham, to welcome farmers and the trade alike, for what we hope will be a useful tool against the challenging situation we currently face.

What can you expect from the day?

9:00 – Arrival

Our chair for the day: Julius Deane, Carr's Flour Mill.

9:30 - AHDB Market Outlook

The AHDB team delivers a presentation on where prices are heading and what factors are driving this market, both domestic and global.

We discuss the two key factors we believe are steering price direction this season. Firstly, the impact of the war between Russia and Ukraine and the impact this has on global supply and trade. Second, the impact of a global and domestic recession might have on grain markets.

AHDB speakers:

• Millie Askew
• Megan Hesketh
• Anthony Speight
• Mark Topliff

Break

11:00 – New markets, new demand.

An industry led discussion where we talk about new demand centres going forward. Speakers on the panel will give a small update and then let’s open the floor for questions and discussion.

Speakers:

• Neil Griffiths – Vivergo Fuels
• Andrew Probert - Premium Crops
• Struan Cessford - Sedamyl

Lunch

13:00 – Challenges ahead - managing risk, with a focus on climate change and carbon markets.

In this session, we explore climate change as a key challenge going forward for growing crops. What can we expect from weather patterns and how does this impact industry? With weather a key determinant of production year on year.

Dr Pete Falloon, Climate Service Lead for Defra on Food, Farming and Natural Environment, delivers a presentation to us on climate change. This is the only virtual element to the day, with their team conscious to keep their travel emissions low.

Following on from this, and within this net zero journey in mind, Bill Gilbert joins us in-person from NatWest to deliver a presentation on the opportunities and challenges to carbon markets and biodiversity markets.

Speakers:

• Dr Pete Falloon – Met Office
• Bill Gilbert - NatWest

14:30 – Departure