Future of Farming Theatre, sponsored by Virgin Money and Lightsource bp
The Future of Farming Theatre is an important feature of the Royal Three Counties Show.
Talks
The Future of Farming Theatre, sponsored by Virgin Money and Lightsource bp in 2025, provides specialist advice and support to farmers, landowners, and professionals in the agricultural and land-based sectors through panel discussions and networking sessions held over three days.
Focusing on business, environmental and personal sustainability and resilience, the Theatre features expert speakers and farmer case studies showcasing excellence in business and technology. These sessions offer practical insights and actionable solutions.
The 2025 line-up included special guests such as Farmer Will, Kaleb Cooper, Ally Hunter Blair, Kate Humble, JB Gill and Adam Henson, who shared their knowledge and experiences through talks and discussions.
Networking, Receptions and Advice
This theatre not only enhances visitors’ understanding of British agriculture and land management but also serves as a social hub for professionals attending the show.
Receptions and networking opportunities are held at the show each year. In 2025 these were hosted by Michelmores, River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region, Virgin Money and Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE).
Additionally, a Rural Careers Fair is also held on the show Saturday from 4pm, demonstrating the breadth of opportunities in agriculture, horticulture and the rural sector.
There are also advice stands for you to visit in this area.
Get Involved
If you would like to be involved in the Future of Farming Theatre, please email Alice Arnold.
If you would like updates about the Future of Farming Theatre or about what we have to offer For Farmers as we draw closer to the show, please complete the form here.
Timetable
See below for the timetable for the talks in this theatre in 2025.
| Friday | ||
| Time | Topic | Speakers |
| 8.30 | Networking hosted by the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region Join us to hear about the project at the Three Counties Showground and how it could be applied to your business to monitor water and weather for better decision making |
|
| 9.30 | Innovation: Information capture, use and sharing Monitoring to support decision making for you and your team members to improve profitability and sustainability |
John Parmiter, Rural Working Group Lead, River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region Neave Anderson, Digital Innovation Farm & Agri-Tech Project and Industry Engagement Manager, Hartpury University Megan Lewis, Farm Data Scientist, Harper Adams University Penelope Bossom, Overbury Enterprises |
| 10.30 | Royal Three Counties Show opening ceremony & long service awards | |
| 11.30 | Farming the Future: Unlocking agri-tech through long term land tenure, investment and collaboration How private tech investors view agriculture, what can be done to unlock those markets and drive agri-tech forwards. Looking at the benefits of long-term land tenure approach and how collaboration of landowners can incubate innovative agri-tech solutions, increasing sustainability and profitability. Despite a challenging landscape, they will share their vision for what an exciting future looks like for agri-tech. |
Joe Evans, CLA Vice President and Whitbourne Estate Joanna Rufus, Senior Economic Development Officer at Dorset Council, founder of South West AgriTech and Great South West Food Security Programme Board Member Dan D’Souza, Start Up Acceleration Lead, L Marks Hosted by Charles Courtneay, 19th Earl of Devon, Member of the House of Lords, Partner at Michelmores |
| 12.15 | Networking hosted by Michelmores Join the team from Michelmore for some refreshments and conversation about how they can support you and your business |
|
| 13.00 | Protecting our animal health How can we protect our animal health and our businesses |
Halcyon Hayward, Animal Health and Welfare Scientist, AHDB Kat Hart, George Farm Vets Meg Lawrence, Livestock Manager, Hartpury College and University Hosted by Paul Westaway |
| 13.45 | Financing farming Funding and income sources from schemes and grants to affording to borrow |
Richard Potts, Chief Adviser – Business & Farm Management, NFU Jonathan Powell, Director Agriculture, Virgin Money Charlotte Hollins, Ford Hall Farm Holly Shearman, Head of Livestock and Farm of the Future Programmes, Innovation for Agriculture Hosted by Adam Henson |
| 14.30 | Succession planning and changes to inheritance tax Update on the changes to inheritance tax changes and what they mean for you |
Lucie Hammond, Partner, Hazelwoods Sally Smith, Partner, MFG Olivia Manning, Associate Partner, Balfours Hosted by Oliver Maxey, Head of Agriculture (England), Virgin Money |
| 15.30 | Conservation verses commerce Balancing conservation, alternative land uses, the label of green washing and food production with successful and profitable business |
Brian Richardson, UK Head of Agriculture, Virgin Money Charlotte Swanston, Senior Development Manager, Lightsource bp Tom Bradshaw, NFU President Hosted by Ally Hunter Blair |
| 16.15 | RASE members reception | Members and guests only event |
| Saturday | ||
| Time | Topic | Speakers |
| 10.00 | Succession, death & other tricky topics – getting the often-difficult conversations going How farming families can (and must) start discussions about succession. Changes to inheritance tax mean that all families with farming and other rural businesses need to have open discussions about plans for their businesses and succession. There’s a window of opportunity to make changes but time will soon run out and this takes time. |
Jon Johnson, Partner, Mountain Perspective Martin Waite, Business Development Consultant, Ashbridge Partners Peter Craven, The Family Charter Hosted by Charles Frost, Managing Associate, Michelmores |
| 11.00 | An audience with Farmer Will and JB Gill | Hosted by Ally Hunter Blair |
| 11.45 | Diversification What can you do, what should your first step be and how to avoid the pitfalls; hear from farmers that have diversified and how they did it |
Paddy Bourns, Cacklebean Eggs Ian Mann, Pitlands Farm Ed Swan, Swans Farm Shop Graham Clark, Senior Planning Consultant, Berrys Hosted by Tom Harley, Development Manager, Lightsource bp |
| 12.30 | An audience with Kate Humble and Adam Henson | |
| 13.15 | Networking session hosted by Virgin Money Join the team from Virgin Money for refreshments and conversation about how they can support you and your business |
|
| 13.45 | Where do we get our team from, staffing British agriculture Engaging a team as well as looking at different business models |
Oliver Maxey, Head of Agriculture England, Virgin Money Tess Howe, Head of Partnerships and Policy, TIAH Jimmy Pritt, JWP Farming Stephen Watson, Lecturer and Programme Manager, Hartpury College and University Tilly Abbott, Self emplyed shepherd and Livestock Manager Hosted by Paul Westaway |
| 14.30 | Working together across the supply chain How can the supply chain work together to build sustainability for all and how can you get more involved in your supply chain |
Prys Morgan, Procurement Director, Kepak Tim Lock, Dairy Sector Board Chairman, Red Tractor Ali Capper, Chair of British Apples & Pears, Wye Hops, Horticultural Crop Protection Ltd and Grower Tom Pedley, Senior Buyer Fruit, Marks and Spencer Food Hosted by James Sage |
| 15.15 | Innovation: Climate smart farming How to make changes to your business that support the environment, build innovation and profitability |
Harriet Bunning, Lead Animal Genetics Expert, AHDB Andy Rumming, Waterhay Farm Marco Corradi, Entomologist and Laboratory Manager, Haygrove Hosted by Ally Hunter Blair |
| 16.00 | Rural careers fair Join businesses and training organization from across agriculture, horticulture and the rural sector to see the different opportunities that await you |
Hartpury College and University, Nuffield Farming Scholarship, Albutt Attachments Ltd, Virgin Money, Lightsource bp, Cotteswold Dairy, Innovation for Agriculture/RASE, UK Agri-Tech Centre, AHDB, NFU, Tallis Amos Group, Meadow Quality, Kepak |
| Sunday | ||
| Time | Topic | Speakers |
| 10.15 | Building soil health to build sustainability Using regenerative, organic and conventional practices to find ways that work for your business to improve soil health |
Matt Elliot, Agricultural Lead, FarmED Dr Lizzie Sagoo, Soil Scientist and Associate Managing Director, ADAS Hosted by Ally Hunter Blair |
| 11.00 | An audience with Kaleb Cooper | Hosted by Ally Hunter Blair |
| 11.45 | Developing young professionals in the rural sector How we can encourage and support young people in agriculture and the rural sector |
Trevor Hicks, Head of Department – Agriculture FE, Hartpury College and University MFG Solicitors Chris Padfield, Nuffield Farming Scholar Zoe Morgan, Senior Agricultural Consultant, ADAS Hosted by Paul Westaway |
| 12.45 | Innovation: How to get it into your business Understanding what is relevant to your business and how you can get innovation embedded into your business and team |
Ally Hunter Blair, Weir End Farm Archie Hawkins, Agri Management Solutions Kate Covill, Managing Director, ILOS Energy Hosted by Tom Slattery, UK Agri-Tech Centre |
| 13.30 | Protecting our health, safety and wellbeing Changing behaviour on farm to keep us all safe and well |
Shirley Bemand, We are Farming Minds Claire Worden, FCN National Ambassador Chris Finn, Senior Health and Safety Advisor, CXCS Sam Stables, We Are Farming Minds Hosted by Adam Henson |
| 14.15 | An audience with Adam Henson | Hosted by Ally Hunter Blair |
| 15.00 | Water management and resilience Ensuring this increasingly precious resource is kept in good health |
Dave Johnson, Technical Director, Rivers Trust Wayne Davies, Senior Catchemnt Sensitive Farming Advisor Frank Colwill, Farmer & Grower Hosted by Martin Williams, Herefordshire NFU Chair |
