Agri-Tech Week 2020 provides opportunities to meet potential collaborators, customers and partners within the agri-tech ecosystem and includes the REAP conference on Tuesday 10 November 2020.

Monday 9th November,  9:30-11:00 – 2 BASIS points
ADAS hosts: Use of crop sensing in field vegetable and potato crops

This event will showcase the use of crop sensing in field vegetable and potato crops.

• Welcome and introductions – Lizzie Sagoo, ADAS
• Theory and practice: How to use Ag-tech in the real world? – Bert Rijk, Aurea Imaging, Netherlands
• Analysis of field scale crop reflectance data using ADAS Agronomics data analysis methods – Susie Roques, ADAS
• Crop sensing making sense? – Jacob van den Borne, Van den Borne Farm, Netherlands
• Validating precision ag tech for vegetables – Julie O’Halloran, Queeensland University, Australia
• Industry view –short presentations from commercial companies working in this area – Hummingbird, Solvi and Uvue
• Discussion and questions – All speakers

This event is being delivered as part of the EU Interreg 2 Seas INNO-VEG project (www.inno-veg.org). The INNO-VEG project is developing a new approach for carrying out research on field vegetable and potato crops by using crop sensing data to assess treatment differences.

For more information about this event, please contact Lizzie.Sagoo@adas.co.uk.

Tuesday 10th November, 9:00-16:00 – 4 BASIS points
Agri-TechE hosts: REAP Conference 2020: From micro-scape to landscape – innovating at the frontier

Managing complexity is the biggest challenge for agriculture, as every variable – from the microbes in the soil to global weather patterns – can impact productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Agri-TechE is at the heart of a vibrant agri-tech innovation ecosystem, and this year’s REAP conference is taking a farmer-centric view of the emerging approaches and technologies that promise improved decision-making at every level.

Wednesday 11th November 15.30 – 16.30 – 1 BASIS point
AHDB hosts: Technologies to enhance soil monitoring and crop management

The Rotations Partnership, is a collaboration between industry partners and four research organisations, looking at the impact of rotations on crop yields. The aim is to gain a better understanding of how fundamental changes in soil characteristics impact crop performance.

The presentations will discuss the challenges being addressed, the tech application or approach, key findings and conclusions so far, practical applications and impact on decision making.

Novel techniques are being used to investigate:

• Organic matter – FTIR, an infra-red spectroscopic technique to establish the chemical composition and quality of organic matter – Jean Robertson, James Hutton Institute (JHI).
• Soil porosity – multi spectral imaging to determine the spatial distribution of soil porosity – Tracy Valentine (JHI)
• Soil compaction – electromagnetic conductance (EMI) scanning to quantify compaction through the soil profile – Andy Binley Lancaster
• Management Zones: Using yield monitor data and satellite imagery to identify zones  for differential management and support decision making – Alice Milne, Rothamsted Research

Thursday 12th November, 10:00 – 12:00 – 2 BASIS Points
Norwich Research Park hosts: Crops and non-chemical pest control – genetics, environment and biodiversity

The aim of this event is to explore the complex interactions between crop, pest and non-chemical controls in a changing climatic and regulatory environment. We will explore the impact of new controls on biodiversity and soil health.

• Welcome and Introduction to NRP (Agri focus)
• Microbial functional diversity as an indicator of sustainable farming practices
• Biocontrol and soil microbes. Old chemistry to control these is no longer approved, and regulation remains unclear
• Live Q&A with Dr Nasmille Larke-Mejia & Jake Malone
• B-roll (JIC Field Station) Footage of the JIC Entomology and Insectary Facility
• Combatting CSFB in a post-neonic era
• The molecular ecology of sugar beet leaf miners and their parasitoids
• Aphids and the transmission of virus. Breeding crops that are resistant to aphid
• Live Q/A with Rachel Wells, Dr Lewis Spurgin and James Canham
• Close

Thursday 12th November, 16:30 – 2 BASIS Points
RNAA hosts: Back to reality? Pushing the boundaries in agri-tech and innovation

The global COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a rapid transformation in communications and connectivity. This has accelerated changes that were already underway in agriculture.

In a timely contribution to this year’s Agri-Tech Week, the RNAA is hosting a webinar that tackles the issues and implications: How have the new conditions affected the industry? How much is here to stay – or is this just a passing phase? Does the ‘new norm’ open up new opportunities and, if so, how can these be exploited to benefit knowledge exchange and innovation in agriculture?

In particular, does digital allow new developments to transcend borders and accelerate the transfer of new learnings and understanding around the world? Bringing together senior leaders from across the world, this webinar will address the role that can be played by all those across the industry, but especially agricultural associations and show societies.

16.30     Introduction – Greg Smith, RNAA and Emily Norton, Savills

16.40     National Perspective: Royal Welsh Agricultural Society –Steve Hughson, CEO, RWAS

16.55     International Perspective: Science and Farming – Agritechnica, Germany – Dr Reinhard Grandke, CEO, DLG

17.10     International Perspective: Fieldays 2020 – New Zealand – Peter Nation, CEO, New Zealand National Fieldays Society

17.30     Question and Answer Session

18.00     Close

Friday 13th November, 10:00am – 12:30 pm – 2 BASIS points
NIAB hosts: Soil health and the circular economy; A sustainable future for agriculture

The use of farm waste to improve soil structure, health and performance are key themes for this practical, evidence-based seminar.  The outputs of a number of strategic projects will be discussed. The programme will be as follows:

Session One 10:00 – 11:30

• Use of farm waste, valorising for farm, soil inputs – Lydia Smith, NIAB
• Benchmarking your farm – where are the pinch points? – Adie Collins, Hydrologist, North Wyke
• Effects of organic soil amendments on crop and pest diseases – Ralph Noble, Microbiotech Ltd
• Herbal leys for structural health and productivity – monitoring the results – Patrick McKenna, NIAB
• Working with a complex variable soil – how to mix up treatments and amendments – Craig Livingstone, Lockerley Estate Manager

Session Two 11:40 – 12:30

• Cover crops to optimise the use of digestate – Laura Bouvet, Agri-TechE
• Hy4Dense technology – understanding soil monitoring – Graham Taylor, NIAB
• Bacterial consortium mixes – inoculum to use on farm – Natalia Gulbis, Plantworks
• Recycling waste minerals – providing sustainable crop nutrition – David Harrod, Payne Crop Nutrition
• Salad and soil – challenges and resolutions – Adam Lockwood, Lockwood Salads Ltd.