Under 30s

Chairman’s Jottings

THE delay in lifting Covid restrictions was especially frustrating as the tickets for our first dinner of 2021 were just about to go live. Nevertheless, our plans can be easily moved to August 20th, so mark your calendars. Booking will open in late July and the Under 30s Committee are very excited to welcome members back. We hope to fit several dinners in before the end of 2021. I’m really enjoying being back in the office and getting to know my new colleagues. My diary is also beginning to fill up with visits outside of the office – I was especially pleased to go to the Cereals Event in Lincolnshire. My first big trip out of the office was to Cornwall for the G7, an incredible experience. If I had time to fit in several farm walks this year I would certainly add Cornwall to my list. Sadly, I don’t, but I hope it will not be too long before an Under 30s trip to Cornwall is planned. I have really enjoyed being back at the Club in recent weeks for dinner and drinks with friends. Being able to catch up in such beautiful surroundings is fantastic. The food continues to be amazing and the staff are so welcoming. I look forward to seeing more members as events return to the Club. Henley Regatta is on my list – I really hope I can get a ticket and that other Under 30s also apply. It is always an incredible event.

Contact Eleanor for more information: Eleanor Kay UK Agricultural Specialist, London Under 30s Chairman 2020/21

07964 909108 • eleanorkay@live.co.uk

Against all odds!

LOCKDOWNS, Tier Systems and gathering restrictions have all had devastating effects on the sports and events industry. For country pursuits enthusiasts our biggest frustration was the premature end to the hunting and shooting seasons, curtailing our long awaited winter social activities.

For me Easter 2020 was supposed to be my first fixture as Honorary Secretary of The Kimblewick Hunt Easter Point to Point, one of the country’s largest amateur horseracing meetings, held at Kimble Racecourse in Buckinghamshire. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic it was cancelled, alongside many others throughout the country.

Fortunately, for horseracing fans, Point to Points were able to proceed in the 2020/21 season, albeit with a few Covid-19 twists… So, after a bad start to the year, we were thrilled to start making preparations for Easter 2021.

An Easter at Kimble usually hosts 10,000 spectators, trade stands and other attractions, so it was a learning curve organising the Point to Point behind closed doors and in-line with Covid-19 regulations. No paying spectators were permitted, proving a challenge as ticket sales are usually the fixture’s main source of income. As well as attendees being required to wear face coverings at all times, strict procedures were put into place to ensure social distancing.

But the day had a remarkable atmosphere despite only officials, jockeys and trainers being in attendance – and the racing was live-streamed, which brought in a new income source. We received 95 entries – a record number in recent years for the fixture.

Preparations have already begun for Easter 2022 and all my fingers are crossed for some normality as I resume my role as Secretary

Millie Etheridge Under 30s member

Green Gold?

What is the potential of hemp for UK farmers? Under 30s member Camilla Hayselden-Ashby finds out

HEMP is having a renaissance with the global hemp market projected to reach $15.26 billion by 2027. This is thanks to its environmental credentials, the boom in CBD and increased interest in its potential for use in sustainable materials. Hemp, which is cannabis with a low percentage of THC (the psychoactive component tetrahydrocannabinol), has over 25,000 uses. The leaves and flowers can be processed to extract CBD (cannabidiol). The stem consists of a woody core, called the ‘shiv’, and the outer bast fibre. The shiv can be mixed with lime to produce hempcrete, a carbon negative alternative to concrete.

The fibre can be used for textiles (hemp was historically an important crop because of its use in rope and sail making), bioplastics and insulation, while the seeds are nutritionally dense and can be used for oil, plant-based proteins or animal feed.

Environmental footprint

It is an environmentally beneficial crop. Hemp can sequester 15 tonnes of CO2 per hectare, making it extremely important in the race to Net Zero. It also has a deep root system which improves soil structure and brings up nutrients from deep in the soil. Hemp has low input needs, requiring 50kg/ha of N and typically no pesticides. The crop’s vigorous growth means it is effective in shading out weeds.

Home Office licence

Growing hemp in the UK requires a licence from the Home Office. Applying for a licence involves a criminal record check, stating where the crop will be grown (away from homes, roads and footpaths) and the end use. It is illegal to process hemp flowers and leaves in the UK, so as part of the application it must be stated how they will be destroyed. This restriction means UK farmers cannot produce CBD oil, cutting off a valuable revenue stream. As a result all CBD sold in the UK is imported. While interest is growing there are some key challenges to be overcome for the UK hemp industry to succeed:

• Restrictive licencing • Lack of established markets to sell into • Lack of agronomic knowledge and UK specific varieties • Access to harvesting and processing equipment Finding the solution to these challenges inspired me to apply for a Nuffield Scholarship. I will be using my 2021 Nuffield Scholarship, kindly supported by NFU Mutual Charitable Trust, to see how the UK’s nascent hemp industry can learn from international best practice in countries such as Canada, the USA, China, France, Germany, Holland, Ukraine and Romania. We are also growing hemp on our family farm in Kent.

Camilla Hayselden-Ashby Under 30s Member, Kent

Hemp uses (source: Farinon, Barbara, Romina Molinari, Lara Costantini, a nd Nicolò Merendino. 2020. “The Seed of Industrial Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.): Nutritional Quality and Potential Functionality for Human Health and Nutrition.”