Lord Donald Curry Delivers Key Note George Scott Robertson Memorial Lecture 2017

Date published: 21 November 2017

Areas of Expertise: Animal Health and Welfare, Sustainable Livestock, Grassland and Plant Science, Environmental Protection, Food Quality and Safety, Fisheries and Aquatic Ecosystems, Economics

Lord Don Curry, who authored an influential UK Government report in 2002 “Farming and Food – A Sustainable Future”, delivered the prestigious 2017 George Scott Robertson Memorial Lecture recently.

Lord Donald Curry, keynote speaker at the recent George Scott Robertson Memorial Lecture

Jointly organised by AFBI, Queen’s University, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Ulster Farmers Union, this year’s lecture was hosted in the Riddel Hall, Queen’s University Belfast.

In reflecting on progress in the fifteen years since the 2002 report, Lord Curry commented on the relevance of the original report and the fact that many of the key recommendations still applied. For example, the options for farmers, post Brexit, were the same as those identified in the original report in 2002:

Members from the host organisations which includes AFBI, QUB, DAERA and UFU pictured with Lord Curry at this years lecture in the Riddel Hall, Belfast

increase efficiency;
add value to raw material to capture more of the retail value;
diversity into some other income stream;
or do all three.

Audience members at the George Scott Robertson Memorial Lecture

Lord Curry commented “Despite all the uncertainty and confusion that currently surrounds the Brexit process; this is the most important moment in time for a generation. The sheet of paper is still clean! The script has still to be written and it should be a collective effort and holistic, embracing consumer and health interests. It needs to span industry, academia and government departments.”