2050futures is a communications agency with a difference. Specialists with a difference.
That’s because we’re concerned with principle, ideals and results in equal measure. Like our clients, we are
committed to achieving a more energy‐efficient, greener, cleaner and healthier future ‐ and committed to
doing things differently, for a better 2050 future. Ours is a social, environmental and ethical commitment. A
commitment to ensuring that seven billion people can co‐habit
on this planet without destroying it.
If you’re thinking about what your 2050 future looks like, and
planning for it, 2050futures has the skills, knowledge, contacts
and drive to help you realise your vision.
“Plant a tree, and you plant it not for your own use but entrusted to a future generation. Let’s sow these acorns of principle today.”
Why 2050 futures?
2050futures provides a remarkable new communications and consultancy service. Focusing on principle,
thought and ideals, we work with clients in and around the food, farming and energy sectors. Clients who are
committed to bringing about change and who accept the challenges of responsible, sustainable business
practice, so securing a bright and realistic 2050 future for us all.
We’re different from other agencies offering ‘corporate responsibility’ consultancy. That’s because we’ve
already ‘talked the talk’ within the the conventional agricultural and food sectors. Now it’s time for us to
combine the knowledge, experience and credibility we hold in that sector with our own belief and
commitment to a more sustainable approach to business, food production and our planet’s future.
So while other agencies may talk about the importance of ‘securing reputations’ and developing ‘long‐term
business value’, as far as we’re concerned that’s only so much window‐dressing. It’s not enough simply to
react to external influences; the real change must come from within. Rest assured: we are as committed to
change as you.
Focus on food and farming
Despite the warnings about resource depletion, politicians insist
food production must rise by 70 per cent before 2050. Yet one‐
third of GHG production comes from our current agriculture and
food industries.
In fact, our current food and farming system presents a great
challenge to a secure 2050 future. What’s needed is a system capable of feeding a growing population
without the drain on finite energy resources and effects on global climate and our environment. Nor should
we have to decide between ‘farming’ or ‘the environment’ ‐ an effective and sustainable system should be
able to reconcile the two.
Everyone who’s involved with food consumption has a responsibility, but those involved with production can
help others to fulfil these responsibilities . The choices we make over the next 40 years will not only define
our 2050 future, but also redefine many of our ethical and corporate interpretations. It’s essential to
communicate both the need for change, and the act of change itself.
“We have a very serious problem on our
planet. Simply ratcheting up the fertiliser and
pesticide‐led production methods of the 20th
century is unlikely to address the challenge.”
Achim Steiner, executive director, UNEP
How we work
Radical ideas, new thinking, the grasp of a new mindset, a different language, the creation of a fresh culture ‐
it’s what’s often needed for effective, long‐term change. But it’s first necessary to understand the context in
which existing attitudes are shaped. Otherwise, such efforts can be misunderstood or resisted ‐ and destined
to fail.
In choosing to work with 2050futures, you’ll work with people who want to do more than simply help you to
communicate your ideals and beliefs. We understand and share them. And our C3 approach ‐ consultancy,
creativity and communications ‐ is based on ‘innovative experience’: using our familiarity with the industry and
a successful track‐record to deliver carefully thought‐out, well‐crafted and cost‐effective campaigns in an area
where, as yet, there are few benchmarks.
Pioneers have always set their own parameters.
Services from 2050futures
We combine your objectives with our knowledge, experience and a pinch of innovation to develop strong, sound and effective ideas for communication.
The tools on which we rely are wide and varied:
•Media strategy and relations•Thought leadership programmes•Social media development•Profile building and brand development
•Research and report writing•Policy and issue monitoring•Co‐operation and coalition initiatives
• Internal communications•Press office function•Media training
•Crisis and issues management•Conference, event and exhibition management•Design consultancy, corporate identity management, marketing literature, copywriting and advertising (through our sister enterprise, The Distillery)
Why 2050?
Humans see the ability to use the world’s natural resources, and harness them, as a symbol of civilisation. But:
•We’ve doubled our consumption of resources since 1970 and we’re still increasing that consumption by 1.5%
each year ‐ if that continues, we’ll need another planet by 2050;
• The human population will exceed 9 billion by 2050;
• If CO2 levels continue to grow, global temperatures will increase by 2 degrees by 2050;
• If we’re to avert the worst problems of climate change ‐ and secure our food supply ‐ we’ll need an 80% cut
in our global emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) by 2050;
The UK’s population alone requires the resources equivalent to
nearly three planets’ productive capacity to meet annual
demands.1 Does that affect your business? Are you already taking
steps to mitigate it? How can we take action today to bequeath a
favourable 2050 future? The actions we take today will shape the range of 2050 futures we face ‐ and at
2050futures, we’re committed to making today the changes that will help to shape tomorrow.
1 Report on State of the Planet, WWF, 2010
“Our changing world is changing
attitudes ‐ but they don’t change
overnight.”
Behind 2050futures
Adrian Bell has spent more than 14 years as a communications and media consultant in the food and farming industry, working with the sector’s big brands to direct a variety of campaigns, and developing valuable relationships with key influencers and leading journalists.
In 2007 he co‐founded with Ruth Jewkes the specialist agricultural agency Whisper.pr, which has established a reputation for robust, effective media relations campaigns, backed by strong technical understanding, creative ability and a team passionate about its industry. It counts among its clients some of the biggest names in global agriculture.
Adrian is committed to developing a sound future for farming and food production ‐ one that’s based on principles of sustainability and environmental responsibility. Crucially, he doesn’t believe there’s a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer ‐ but that proponents of both ‘conventional’ and what’s often termed ‘alternative’ agriculture can learn from each other if we are to create a truly sustainable food production industry which can feed the world without adverse effects.
It’s that conviction which led to the founding of 2050futures. Adrian works with companies and organisations that are already committed to sustainable practices, helping them benefit from sound, effective PR handled by people who know how to market these products and services to best effect. Not only does 2050futures understand the product and the marketing objectives, but also has the knowledge and experience carried across from its communications within ‘conventional’ agriculture that allows the prejudices and commercial realities of the markets to be put into context.
A graduate of the University of Reading and the Royal Agricultural College, Adrian is Chairman of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists of Great Britain, a director of the Wiltshire Horn Sheep Society, a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farmers and an active member of the Soil Association. He also farms in Gloucestershire, producing organic veal, lamb and pork for sale locally.
2050futures presents clients with an effective, valuable team of communications professionals who share not only the same social, environmental and ethical commitment, but also the commitment to seeing effective results bringing about long‐lasting effects.
Our philosophy
We don’t think the work we do for our clients should increase carbon footprint, either ours or yours.
•We use technology to keep our travel requirements to a minimum (but if we must travel, we use public
transport as much as possible), working predominantly from a home‐based office
•We buy electricity from LOCO2, on a 100% renewable‐based tariff
•We try to keep a paperless office; when we can’t, we rely on recycled
•We buy our print from ISO14001 environmentally‐accredited printers
5, The Farmhouse Fernhill Court Balsall Road East Balsall Common CV7 7FR Tel 01451 885588 [email protected] www.2050futures.com
2050 futures is a trading style of Whisper Consultancy Ltd Reg 6190143