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Agri-Tech and ELMs – the Innovation Enablers
Tuesday 22nd March @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Struggling to know how much carbon you’ve captured? Want to get a handle on the health of your soils? Trying to check for improvements in the quality of your water? Want to measure how much you have boosted your biodiversity?
We explore how technology can help agriculture deliver environmental benefits alongside sustainable food production and the achievement of industry net zero targets.
The UK’s new “Environment and Land Management” (ELM) scheme will see a see a shift towards incentivising farmers to deliver “public goods” in exchange for public money. The National Farmers’ Union also has an ambitious plan to reach net zero by 2040.
It is still unclear how to measure, monitor and manage many of the elements of these “public goods” – a major risk for farmers as they transition into the new system.
This event aims to provide an opportunity to hear from farmers and advisors that have participated in early trials and also from the technologists and researchers that are developing techniques and tools to assist them.
Join us in person at Rothamsted Research as we explore and showcase agri-tech enablers for ELMs that can give farm businesses the edge in coping with the forthcoming changes.
What you can expect
Throughout the day we will explore how technologies and innovations can support environmental sustainability through this transition period, by:
- 10 minute case studies from the ecosystem – drawn from five key themes of soils, water, woodland, biodiversity and ecosystem services
- Innovation Insights – technology enablers for ELMs
- The ecosystem speaks – a buzz session with input from the floor
- The role of the supply chain – the retailers view
- Insights from the consumer
Who is this for?
Everyone is invited but in particular it will be relevant for:
Farmers, growers and land owners
- looking to test new sets of tools and solutions for managing the environment
- interested in collaborating with agri-tech companies
- preparing for the next round of Defra funding
Tech developers and the wider innovation community
- interested in getting a better understanding of the mechanisms around ELMs
- looking to get a sense of how their technologies could be applied in the context of environment management
Programme
10.00 Refreshments on arrival
10:30 Introduction and welcome: Andrew Blenkiron, Farm Director, Euston Estates
10:45 Setting the scene: Jake Freestone, Farm Manager, Overbury Enterprise
11:00 10 minute case studies from the ecosystem
Hear from key players in the field about how they are innovating in their use of tools and approaches for delivering environmental benefits.
Soils: Can we really develop a “Soil Health-O-Meter? – Dr Jacqueline Hannam, Senior Research Fellow in Pedology, University of Cranfield
Water: How the Wensum Farmers group is improving water quality whilst challenging governmental pollution models & assumptions – Lizzie Emmett, Adviser, Upper Wensum Cluster Farm Group
Woodland: Woodland – green gold for farmers? – Greg Beeton, Divisional Partner, Brown & Co
Biodiversity – Jenny Phelps, Senior Farm Environment Advisor, FWAG South West
Ecosystem services: Practical integration of ecosystem services for farming businesses – Dr Alasdair Sykes, Managing Director for Sustainability, Trinity Agtech
11.50 Innovation Insights – Technologies for ELMS
Take a whistle-stop tour through the latest technologies and innovations in data management, soil sensing and monitoring , irrigation, carbon management and much more.
Speakers in this session include :
University of Reading (envision-h2020.eu)
12.45 Lunch
13.30 Gaps and Opportunities – The Ecosystem Speaks!
This is your chance to join the conversation in smaller groups and help identify where you see the gaps and opportunities for agri-tech across the various ELMS themes, and how that applies to your business. The session will be facilitated by case study speakers.
14:30 Transitioning on a landscape level: Carbon trading – a farmer’s perspective – Thomas Gent, UK Country manager & Head of Certificates, Agreena
14:40 Beyond the farm gate
The role of the supply chain – Chris Brown, Head of Sustainability, ASDA
The role of the consumer – Susie Stannard, Senior Consumer Insight Analyst, AHDB
15.10 Closing comments and further networking – Andrew Blenkiron, Farm Director, Euston Estates
16:00 Event close
Speakers
Andrew Blenkiron
Farm Director
Euston Estates
Jake Freestone
Farm Manager
Overbury Enterprise
Dr Jacqueline Hannam
Senior Research Fellow in Pedology
University of Cranfield
Lizzie Emmett
Adviser
Upper Wensum Cluster Farm Group
Thomas Gent
Regenerative farmer and
UK Country manager & Head of Certificates
Agreena
Jenny Phelps
Senior Farm Environment Advisor
FWAG South West
Greg Beeton
Divisional Partner
Brown & Co
Chris Brown
Head of Sustainability
ASDA
Susie Stannard
Senior Consumer Insight Analyst
AHDB
Alasdair Sykes
MD for Sustainability
Trinity Agtech
Innovation Insights will include contributions from:
Tickets
This is an in-person event at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ.
Cost:
This event is £50+VAT for members of Agri-TechE, and £80+VAT for non-members.
To find out more about becoming a member of Agri-TechE, please click here.
6 Basis CPD points will be available for attendees this event.
Agri-Tech Pollinator events are Agri-TechE’s monthly network meetings, including REAP and the Innovation Hub. We want to ignite discussions following a topic deep dive with multiple specialists offering varied perspectives and expertise. Individuals from all sectors and disciplines welcome—whether you’re a grower, a researcher, a technical, professional service provider, an entrepreneur or completely new to the sector, come along and join in!
COVID-19:
You can find out more about the measures we are putting in place to keep our attendees safe at events at the top of our ‘Upcoming Events’ page.
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