Talk Farm episode 3: the factors reshaping UK agriculture – Brexit, Defra and Trump’s tariffs

It’s been an eventful few months for UK farmers and agricultural professionals, with developments both at home and abroad posing a new set of challenges and opportunities.

In the latest episode of Talk Farm, host James Frankland welcomes Ed Barker, Head of Policy and External Affairs at the Institute of Agricultural Industries Confederation, as his guest. Ed’s role at the AIC is focused around six key sectors:

• Policy – mostly external and environmental
• Animal feed
• Combinable crops
• Crop protection and agronomy
• Fertiliser
• Seed.

His work involves bridging the gap between those at the coal face of agriculture – farmers and rural business owners – and those making the decisions that impact supply chains and the agricultural economy.

James and Ed’s conversation addresses the key trends – both micro and macro, national and international – shaping UK farming, including:

• The new government: With wholesale electoral changes following the recent Labour landslide, new MPs must quickly learn the ins and outs of agriculture, while stakeholders face the challenge of engaging with new decision-makers
• Defra’s 2025 agenda: What’s on the to-do list for Defra going into this new year, and do they have the resources to manage it?
• CBAM: What is Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, and why is everyone talking about it right now?
• The presidential question: What would a second Trump presidency mean for global trade and the agricultural economy?
• Brexit aftershocks: Brexit may feel like it’s in the distant past, but its impact is still being felt in all corners of the agricultural industry. How much progress have we made since 2019, and what do we still need to address?
• Industry coalition: Ed is clear that, to influence policy and inspire change for the better, industry unions and trade bodies must work together rather than in silos to cut through the noise
• Gene editing: Why the UK is ahead of the game and when we might expect to start seeing results?
• Crop talk: Should we be concerned about declining crop diversity?

Tune in to hear Ed’s thoughts on all the above and plenty more, in a comprehensive discussion that seeks to join the dots between global developments, domestic policies and trends, and the future of UK farming.

In increasingly turbulent times for agriculture and landed estates, Talk Farm sets out to identify the human impacts of legal and political developments, offering industry commentary and practical guidance that cuts through the noise.

The show is presented by Rory Hutchings and James Frankland, both partners in HCR Law’s Agriculture and Estates team. If you’ve got a query about agricultural law, our team is always happy to help.

You can listen to the podcast here, or also on Spotify and on Apple Podcasts.