Innovation for Agriculture East, 13:00 – 16:40 11 November 2014, Trinity Park, Ipswich, Suffolk
With increasingly volatile farm gate prices, the smart use of inputs is one of the ways that farmers can increase the resilience of their operations. Use of technology to improve on-farm efficiency and the management of water resources are two of the themes for the Suffolk Agri-Tech Week 2014 event.
Robert Rous, chair of Suffolk Agriculture Association, says:
“With a keynote lecture by NFU Vice President Guy Smith, this event is an opportunity for farmers and technologists to take part in debates and discussions about the importance of new technologies, how to maximise the benefit of new innovations and how to make sure new technologies meet the needs of farmers.
“In addition, we will also be discussing the critical importance of an integrated approach to water management and what a 25 year plan for water for agriculture in the east of England should look like.”
The event, held in association with FramFarmers, is an important contribution to the UK’s first Agri-Tech Week, during which key elements of the east of England’s agricultural research, practice and business are to be showcased and debated.
This is a unique opportunity to work with like-minded people in your network to help influence policy-making and strategic directions of research and cluster development in the east of England.
Who should attend: Growers, farmers, producers, policy-makers, those interested in key topics such as integrated water management technology and innovation management within agriculture.
To book your place please click here.
Programme:
13:00 Registration – Tea and coffee
13:30 Welcome and Introduction
Robert Rous, Chair, Suffolk Agricultural Association
13:35 Keynote Address; Why UK Farming Needs Technology and a Progressive Approach
Guy Smith, Vice President, National Farmers’ Union
14:00 Workshop sessions
Workshop 1 – ‘Technology Transfer: From Research to On-Farm Reality’
Delivered by: Mark Bowyer, Head of Farming at ProduceWorld and 2014 Nuffield Scholar and Belinda Clarke, Director, Agri-Tech East and 2001 Nuffield Scholar
Key topics to be addressed:
- How do farmers currently hear about new innovations which are available or in development?
- How can farmers better decide the potential value or impact of a new technology to them?
- Who do farmers trust most to give them information about new innovations?
- How can technology developers balance communication about things “in the pipeline” or should farmers only hear about new things that are available on the market now?
Workshop 2 – ‘Water in Agriculture: Managing Future Water Needs’
Delivered by: Martin Collison, Collison & Associates Ltd, Ruth Welters, Agri-Tech Water Cluster, University of East Anglia (UEA) and Steve Dorling, Weatherquest
Key topics to be addressed will be:
- What are the main challenges with water in agriculture?
- How are/will these challenges change over time?
- What would a 25 year plan to secure water for agriculture include?
- What technologies may allow us to manage water in agriculture more effectively?
16:00 Wrap-up session to include ‘Next steps’ from the key points of the workshops
16:30 Summary remarks from Guy Smith and Robert Rous
16:40 Close and depart
To register for the event please click here.