MILKING IT
Cover Feature
Written by Stuart Wood
8
The Royal Association of
British Dairy Farmers has
taken a hands-on approach
to its events, and DairyTech is
reaping the rewards in its
third year
“WE LIVE IN A fast-paced world, where
as Knight shows us around the floor. “This the country, and recognises the kinds of
is our third year, and we just keep getting key topics (see ‘The rise of Veganuary’)
bigger,” he says. and tech which the industry wants to see
Part of the secret to DairyTech’s success
is the wide reach that RABDF has within
addressed.
“We aren’t the only association that has
the dairy industry. It is a charity with a that kind of reach,” says Knight. “I honestly
130-year history and is the holder of a don’t know why more associations aren’t
Royal Warrant, which recognises goods or organising their own events, instead of
services provided to the Royal Family. This going to third parties.”
means it has a very strong network across
Chris Hartley, managing director of
people want to get involved in their DairyTech venue NAEC
industry,” says Matt Knight, managing Stoneleigh, suggests
director of the Royal Association of British
Dairy Farmers (RABDF). “If associations
don’t stage their own events, someone
else will – it’s a saturated market out
The rise of
‘Veganuary’
an answer to Knight’s
question. “I think
the majority of trade
associations don’t
think of themselves as
there. If you’ve got all the contacts, why
One of the key topics at DairyTech event organisers,” he says.
is the rise of ‘Veganuary’, a word “What they perhaps don’t
description, as AEN finds ourselves uttered around the show floor with realise is that they already have
chatting with Knight in the middle trepidation. The event, which took the difficult bit – the network.
of DairyTech, RABDF’s dairy industry place at the beginning of February, Commercial exhibition organisers would
comes after a month which has kill to have the kinds of ready-made
seen reduced consumption of databases that many associations have,
dairy products. Speakers in the but they often aren’t utilised.”
aren’t you doing it yourself?”
‘Saturated’ seems a fitting
exhibition. We’re surrounded on
all sides by the latest agricultural
technology – shiny pumps, cow
treadmills, enormous tractors
and much more
Innovation Theatre suggested that
Hartley suggests that if associations
this trend should be embraced, not took the plunge and went independent
confronted, and milk producers with their events, there could be huge
the event should do more to highlight their rewards. He adds: “Frankly, some
is also sustainable practices. The RABDF, exhibition organisers take
‘saturated’ in meanwhile, is in the process of advantage of trade
putting together a report which will associations. They give
measure the impact of Veganuary them sponsorship, or a
and offer advice to farmers. tiny stand at the back
besides. But
another way –
its so busy we can
hardly walk side by side
www.aenetwork.co.uk