Actively preparing for change in the future of farming …
The AgriScot 2025 seminar programme is a cornerstone of the farm business event in November, offering a platform for knowledge exchange, technical updates, and innovative solutions. Alongside the main ring demonstrations, competitions and extensive trade exhibition – featuring over 230 stands – the seminars exist to provide farmers and stakeholders with useful insights to help navigate the future of Scottish farming.
Held across two rooms, the topics have been curated to provide insight and innovation in a broad spectrum of topics and bring together some of the key voices in Scottish agriculture. These discussions are practical guidance and solution-led approaches, ensuring those in attendance, or watching the live streams online, benefit from the seminars.
NFU Scotland’s head-to-head debate and Q&A session with Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie and President NFU Scotland, Andrew Connon will set the tone – providing political context and insight from farming leaders and encouraging attendees to raise their concerns and voice their questions.
All the seminars are free to attend and can be found in the Upper Foyer of the Highland Hall at the Royal Highland Centre.
Seminar Room 1
NFU Scotland: NFU Scotland head-to-head debate and Q&A seminar – 10:00am to 11:00am
Chaired by AgriScot’s Chairman Gilmour Lawrie, the annual seminar returns and will be joined by the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity Jim Fairlie MSP and NFU Scotland President Andrew Connon. This important and timely debate will be limited on space due to popularity, therefore early arrival is advised to secure a seat and participate in a debate that will cover the biggest issues facing the industry.
Turcan Connell: Start Planning Now for Changes to Inheritance Tax – 11:30 am to 12:30 pm
Farmers have been grappling in recent years with political uncertainty in the form of land reform and other issues, and the 2024 Autumn Budget brought further challenges for farmers across the UK. The proposed reforms to inheritance tax from April 2026 mean that there are tax and succession challenges for all scales and sizes of farming businesses. This session will discuss a summary of the inheritance tax proposals announced in the Autumn 2024 Budget, where we are now, and what can be done before the changes come into force in April 2026.
Session speakers include Turcan Connell Partners Grierson Dunlop, Land and Property and Richard Douglas-Home, Tax and Succession who says,
“AgriScot is a fantastic platform for those shaping the future of Scottish agriculture. I’m delighted to be hosting a seminar on recent inheritance tax changes, and the steps that farming families can take now to mitigate the impact of those changes.”
Scottish Dairy Hub: Driving Dairy to a Sustainable and Profitable Future – 1:00 pm to 2.00 pm
Becki Reay, account and relationship manager for Kite Consulting will chair this year’s Scottish Dairy Hub annual seminar, putting sustainability and profitability at the centre of the debate.
Agricultural journalist and milk market analyst Chris Walkland will continue to set the scene before three industry leaders outline their visions for a profitable and sustainable future for the dairy sector.
Speakers for this panel are:
- Tim Lock, Dairy Sector Chair for Red Tractor
- Lyndon Edwards, chair of the AHDB Dairy Council 2025
- Mark Brooking, Chief Impact Officer at First Mik
Norvite: Proteins in Perspective: Is this the End of the Road for Soya? – 2.15 pm to 3.15 pm
With political forces everting pressure on protein feed materials, this session will explore such supplies from a variety of perspectives along the supply chain and investigate how EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR), trade tariffs, market volatility and customer specifications will affect winter feeding decisions. The following industry leaders will address responsible sourcing and discuss potential feed supplies for the future, followed by a Q&A session:
- George Eddell, UK Head of Feeds, ADM.
- Dr Matt Palmer, Technical Manager, Norvite.
- Tom Neill, Thornington Farm (ARLA Farmer)
- Retail Industry Representative, TBC.
SAC Consulting: Turning Policy into Practice – 3.30 pm to 4:30 pm
This interactive seminar will provide a practical discussion on how current agricultural policy, livestock nutrition strategies, and data-driven tools can be applied effectively on-farm. There will be an opportunity for the audience to ask questions and explore what real-world implementation looks like in 2025 and beyond.
Hosted by Jennifer Struthers from SAC Consulting, this year’s list of speakers include:
- Steven Thomson, Professor in Agricultural Economics and Policy at SRUC
- Lorna Shaw, Ruminant Nutritionist atSAC Consulting
- Julian Bell and Rachel Ramsey, Agrecalc
Seminar Room 2
Farmstrong Scotland: Blether Together – 9:00 am to 10:00 am
Farmstrong Scotland will bring to the session, a ‘Blether Together Live’. These series of events are designed to bring farmers and crofters together in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Delivered in partnership with SAYFC, the session will feature a Farmstrong chat around what guest speakers do to help them function well and feel good. In addition, they will discuss the positive impacts of being part of SAYFC.
This event will be hosted by Blether Together Live host, Sarah Stephen, who will be speaking with guests:
Catriona Gemmell, member of SAYFC
Jack Young, AgriScot Business Skills Winner 2022 and member of SAYFC
Scottish Government: Scottish Land LiDAR Programme – 11:00am to 12:00pm
The Scottish Government seminar will introduce the new Scottish Land LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) Programme. Announced by the First Minister in February 2025, this programme will deliver the first national LiDAR map for Scotland and work with research institutes in Scotland to deliver mapping and information products to support our environment and climate resilience.
LiDAR provides highly accurate, detailed three-dimensional maps of our farmland, peatlands, forests and built environment. By using laser pulses to measure distances, it precisely captures topography, vegetation structure and subtle variations in elevation that affect water flow and soil health.
AHDB: Grain Market Outlook – 12:15 pm to 1:15 pm
Followed by a Q&A session, AHDB’s seminar will focus on sustainability with a Scottish cereals and oilseeds market outlook – bringing together insights and data to help you understand the latest market developments and requirements. The session will question what sustainability means to Baird’s malt and what the NFUS views are on the Scottish Agricultural policy and will be answered by:
Victoria Buxton, Baird’s Malt Sustainability manager.
David Mickie NFUS cereals policy advisor.
Davidson & Robertson: The Future of Scottish Renewables and Electricity Infrastructure Post-Grid Reform (Gate 2) – 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Davidson & Robertson’s seminar will provide an update on the progress to achieve the 2030 plan, transmission and distribution Grid rollout, developments in energy and renewables opportunities, including:
• The pitfalls and opportunities in the “Electrical Revolution” to achieve net zero
• The grid challenge: transmission and distribution and what these mean for farmers and landowners
• The grid reform review: how this affects farmers’ and landowners’ renewable and energy projects, and the impact of Gate 2
• How developments in renewables technology opens opportunities
“We’re looking forward to returning to AgriScot – it’s always a great opportunity to meet with our clients and discuss the challenges and opportunities they’re facing. We’ll be hosting a seminar this year to share our insights into the future of Scottish renewables and how grid reform and rollout will likely impact the farming community.” Ian Austin, Director Davidson & Robertson.
Moredun Research Institute: Reducing Antibiotic Use on Farm: Practical Tools and Future Solutions – 2:45 pm to 3:45 pm
Moredun will close the seminar sessions, this year focusing on understanding and managing antibiotic use on your farm. This session will show you practical steps you can take now and solutions for the future, as they demonstrate how the Scottish AMU Pilot is supporting beef and dairy farmers to track antimicrobial use through standardised reporting and how to use the AMU Calculator. In addition, they will share insights from the six practices already involved, showing what practical tracking looks like in action. The seminar will also include presentations from farming, veterinary, research, and industry perspectives, followed by an open panel discussion and audience Q&A.
Speakers include:
Kate Rowell, QMS and farmer
Robert Neill, NFUS
Mike Denholm, Clyde Vets
Nuno Silva, Moredun Research Institute
