REAP Conference 2020: From micro-scape to landscape – innovating at the frontier
Tuesday 10th November
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.
This year’s conference will include:
- A revolutionary approach to improving soil health based on best practice from the world’s top farmers – curated by the inspirational Prof David Montgomery
- Collaborations that are creating impact – entrepreneurs that have featured in previous REAP Start-Up Showcases talk about farmer-led projects that are radically changing the value chain
- First chance to see groundbreaking innovation in this year’s Start-Up Showcase
- Leading scientists giving their edit of the most exciting discovery science
- New product launches and technology demonstrations featured in the exhibition area
- An interactive sofa session with expert insights to stimulate lively discussion from the floor
The REAP conference is a cornerstone of the Agri-TechE calendar, with networking and partnering high on the agenda for many delegates. This year we are taking it to a new dimension to offer an immersive online experience with AI-enabled brokerage to ensure you make valuable connections.
Going ‘virtual’ creates the opportunity for greater interaction with world-leading experts from across the agri-food value chain, making REAP the best investment of time you will make all year.
The REAP keynote speaker is the charismatic David R. Montgomery, MacArthur Fellow and professor of geomorphology at the University of Washington. David’s latest book ‘Growing a Revolution‘ sought to answer the question “How can humanity feed its billions when one-third of agricultural soil is degraded?” Insights gained from a three-decade, six-continent survey of farmland have been synthesised into a blueprint for rapid soil restoration.
David will use case-studies to discuss at REAP how even when the bigger view looks dire, incremental improvements that benefit soil ecology and nutrient cycling at a micro-level can revolutionise agriculture.
Agri-TechE’s annual REAP conference is the flagship event of Agri-Tech Week, bringing together farmers and growers with researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and investors. It is strongly focused around bridging the gap between producer needs and innovation-based solutions, as well as showcasing the increasingly vibrant agri-tech start-up community in the east of England and beyond.
As always there is the opportunity at REAP to create new connections, catalyse collaborations and share ideas.
Programme
9:00 Conference opens: Welcome and information
9:30 Introduction to REAP 2020
John Barrett, Director of Sentry Ltd, and Chair of the Agri-TechE Stakeholder Group
Belinda Clarke, Director of Agri-TechE
9:45 Farmer-Tech Focus – digital agriculture in action
Three agri-tech companies – Outfield: precision fruit farming; Breedr: precision livestock production; and Arable Labs: decision agriculture – featured in REAP Start-Up Showcases just a few years ago are now achieving global impact. The entrepreneurs return to share their journey from concept to on-farm commercial adoption and their farmer partners will discuss how to integrate innovation into current practice.
11:00 Start-Up Showcase – the new generation
The REAP Start-Up Showcase is the launch pad for game-changing innovation. Profile gained within the agri-tech ecosystem of investors, advisors, customers and collaborators accelerates the progress of enterprises that are bringing new thinking to real world challenges.
12:00 Break: Exhibition tours and express networking facilitated by Agri-TechE and AI
12:30 Emerging Agri-Tech – Come into the lab
Incremental improvements to crop performance and big picture thinking to evaluate risk are both needed within agriculture. However, innovating successfully across these different “scales” requires novel technologies and thinking from different sectors to create an understanding of the complete “system”. Leading scientists invite you into their labs to explore the discovery science that is evolving for commercial application.
13:30 Lunch: Exhibition tours and express networking
14:30 Keynote address – Growing a Revolution
David Montgomery, MacArthur Fellow and professor of geomorphology at the University of Washington
Montgomery has travelled the world, meeting farmers at the forefront of an agricultural movement to restore soil health. He sees the huge societal benefits of this work and potential for reforming government subsidies to incentive practices that build soil health and carbon storage. He provides an inspirational view of what is possible.
15:15 Sofa Session – building an inter-scale agricultural system
Sir Duncan Wingham, Executive Chair of the Natural Environment Research Council
Jane Rickson, Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation at Cranfield University
Mike Green, Agricultural Sustainability Manager – Agricultural Solutions at BASF
Stuart Hill, Head of Technology and Innovation at Hutchinsons
David Montgomery, MacArthur Fellow and professor of geomorphology at the University of Washington
What does an “inter-scale” agricultural system of the future look like?
Innovators from different perspectives, from soil microbiology to earth observation, from field level to policy overview, help pull together the thinking from the day and stimulate a discussion with the delegates. Together we will envisage a technology roadmap to the future.
15:45 Closing comments
Belinda Clarke / John Barrett
15:50 Exhibition tours and express networking
Technology Hub
REAP is a great platform to profile and launch new technologies, products and services for agriculture and horticulture with one of the world’s leading agri-tech innovation ecosystems.
This year Agri-TechE is harnessing its experience gained from hosting online events and digital activities to bring the REAP exhibition to virtual attendees, dramatically expanding the reach and impact of your presence at the conference.
Exhibitors at REAP 2020 will be part of a day of interactive content with a focus on replicating the networking experience digitally. AI powered brokerage will be used to ensure you engage with attendees most relevant to you.
There will be a central exhibition hub open all day (and indeed, post-event), where attendees can seek out your business and discover the products and services you offer. In addition to multimedia hosting capabilities, each stand will be able to offer private live chats with visitors.
To create opportunities for wider profile, both pre and post conference, there will be features on the Agri-TechE website and in the media, outreach through social media channels, and a post-conference report for maximum impact.
A virtual exhibition stand on the REAP conference website includes:
- your organisation’s logo and content (this could be a video, an image or pdf)
- opportunities for meeting requests and live chat one-on-one with visitors to your stand
- additional dissemination via the Agri-TechE social media channels (as well as the opportunity to use the collateral via your own channels)
- feature on the REAP conference website in advance of the conference and in the REAP conference report
- one online pass to REAP 2020 (additional passes can be purchased by exhibitors at £50 each)
- enduring presence as Members will also get their exhibition booth info added to their member web page after the conference
Deadline to apply for an online exhibition stand – 26th October 2020.
Take a look at what previous REAP exhibitions have involved in the REAP 2019 report, or in the gallery and video below.
Sponsors
AF
Sponsor of the bursary
The AF Group, the UK’s largest agricultural purchasing co-operative, is delighted to be supporting REAP with bursaries that allow farmers and growers to attend the conference for the discounted rate of £40 (+VAT) per delegate. Anyone in the UK who is a grower or farmer, or who is in full-time education in agriculture (or an agriculture-related discipline such as plant science, agri-engineering, environmental sciences etc) is eligible to apply. Complete and return this entry form by 12 October.
As farming businesses adopt more and more technology, AF is pleased to work closely with Agri-TechE to help them build a hub of global innovation in the east of England.
Jon Duffy, AF Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “Technology is a key part of our industry and will play an increasingly important role in farming businesses in the future. It is crucial we share knowledge and ideas to keep up-to-date with the latest developments, and conferences like REAP are an ideal way to do this.”
View more information at theafgroup.co.uk
AHDB
Sponsor of the Keynote Session
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is a statutory levy board, funded by farmers, growers and the supply chain. Their role is to inspire and provide the tools for farmers, growers and industry to succeed in a rapidly changing world. AHDB works with six sectors including cereals and oilseeds, dairy, beef and lamb, pork, potatoes and horticulture to provide industry leading, independent information.
AHDB carries out extensive research and development programmes, provides market information and analysis, creates new markets and export opportunities, funds education programmes and delivers knowledge exchange work with levy payers aimed at improving on-farm efficiency, productivity and sustainability. Soil health, Integrated Pest Management and the environment, coupled with technical and business performance are current key areas of interest for AHDB. Visit the stand to discuss how you can get involved with, or benefit from this research … or to look in-depth at the biology that can be found in our soils through our live microscope.
For full information, please visit: ahdb.org.uk.
Cambridge & Peterborough Combined Authority
Sponsor of the Technology Hub
The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) is delighted to sponsor the Agri-TechE technology exhibition. Through its Eastern Agri-Tech Growth Initiative, the CPCA can encourage the next generation of exciting, innovative projects that will influence and shape the future of Agri-Tech as we continue to recover from Covid-19.
As one of the most productive agricultural regions in the UK, CPCA knows that Agri-Tech is key to its goal to help businesses build resilience. It is passionately committed to supporting the Agri-Tech community as they develop new and thought-provoking ways to connect the agriculture industry to the ecosystems and micro-scapes that support our beautiful region.
Find out more at cambridgeshirepeterborough-ca.gov.uk
EIT Food
Sponsor of the Emerging Agri-Tech Session
EIT Food is Europe’s leading food innovation initiative, working to make the food system more sustainable, healthy and trusted. EIT Food is supported by the EIT, a body of the European Union that was formed to deliver innovation across Europe.
EIT Food’s unique network of 50+ partners, including key industry players, research centres and universities, and 50+ agri-food start-ups from across Europe, are collaborating together to deliver an innovative and entrepreneurial agri-food sector. In 2018 it invested €14.5m in innovation projects, supported over 90 start-ups and helped launch seven new products and services into the market.
The company is committed to UN Sustainability Goals related to six focus areas including alternative proteins, targeted nutrition, digital traceability and circular food systems. It also recognises the importance of agri-tech to drive sustainable agriculture and sustainable aquaculture to future-proof our food.
EIT Food supports agri-food start-ups through entrepreneurial programmes that help to launch, accelerate and scale their ideas and businesses to deliver new food innovations and businesses across Europe. The company has also created a community of 50K learners where we offer education programmes for students and professionals looking to gain the knowledge and skills needed to innovate the food sector.
To learn more about EIT Food visit: www.eitfood.eu
For further information on how EIT Food supports agri-food entrepreneurs and start-ups, visit: www.eitfood.eu/entrepreneurship and for information on its education programmes, please click here.
Innovate UK
Field sponsor
Innovate UK is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.
It drives productivity and economic growth by supporting businesses to develop and realise the potential of new ideas, including those from the UK’s world-class research base. It is an organisation of around 300 staff, drawn mainly from business working across the UK, with a head office in Swindon.
With a strong business focus, Innovate UK drives growth by working with companies to de-risk, enable and support innovation by connecting businesses to the partners, customers and investors and funding business and research collaborations.
Since 2007 Innovate UK have committed over £1.8 billion to innovation and across all sectors, and this has been matched by a similar amount in partner and business funding. Innovate UK has helped some 8,000 organisations with projects estimated to add more than £16 billion to the UK economy and create nearly 70,000 jobs.
Calum Murray, Head of Agriculture and Food and Innovate UK, said: “Our support is available to businesses across all economic sectors, value chains and UK regions, including agriculture and food here in the East of England. We are therefore delighted to be supporting the AgriTechE and the REAP conference.”
For further information on Innovate UK visit the Innovate UK website.
Rothamsted Enterprises
Sponsor of the Start-Up Showcase
Rothamsted Enterprises is at the heart of agricultural research and is located on the world-renowned Rothamsted Research campus. We’re a unique hub focused on promoting collaboration and innovation by partnering with commercial agricultural businesses and opening up the research process.
We are proud of our state-of-the-art conference facilities and our flexible, collaborative laboratory and office space. These are home to a vibrant community of growing agri-tech businesses including Agri-Tech East members Timac Agro, CHAP and Grow Biotech.
Nicole Sadd, CEO of Rothamsted Enterprises, said: “Sponsoring the Start-Up Showcase at the REAP conference is very important to us and we’re excited to see all that the event has to offer. As an organisation, Rothamsted Enterprises is committed to supporting innovation, collaboration and excellence in agri-tech research, particularly in the East of England and through our partners such as Agri-Tech East.”
See more at rothamstedenterprises.com
Savills
Savills was founded in 1855 as a land agency practice and rural remains at the very heart of its business. Today, the Rural, Energy and Projects Division is one of the largest Savills UK operating divisions. With a turnover of £70m, it has over 900 staff, operating across a UK network of 38 offices and a number of estate offices – from Fochabers in the North to Truro in the South-West.
The Division is regarded as the overall market leader in the rural sector with a strong brand reputation. Clients range from private individuals through to large institutions and corporates.
Its services cover: architecture, building consultancy, rural planning, estate management, forestry (investment and management), professional consultancy (tax, valuation, expert witness), farms and estate sales and purchasing, food and farming, renewable energy, energy brokerage and strategic projects.
These teams are all supported by the rural research team which is responsible for providing bespoke information for pitching, existing clients, PR and marketing.
Find out more at savills.co.uk
Agri-TechE REAP 2020
Ticket cost:
Before 1st October: £75 for members of Agri-TechE, £125 for non-members
Between 1st October - 25th October: £75 for members and £150 for non-members
26th October onwards: £85 for members and £175 for non members
All prices exclude VAT.
Please note the fee is non-refundable for cancellation within 5 working days of the event. Use the link on the top right of the event listing to book; members will need to login or register for an account in order to access the member discount.
To find out more about becoming a member of Agri-TechE, please click here.
4 Basis CPD points will be available for attendees to this event.
Farmer & Student Bursary:
As usual we are offering the chance to win one of 20 Bursaries for those who are either farmers or in full-time education in an agriculture or horticulture related subject. The Bursary entitles the holder to a ticket to REAP for just £40 - kindly sponsored by AF.
Complete and return the Bursary application form to us by 12th October 2020.
Mailing List:
If you would like to hear about what Agri-TechE is up to, or about other events we run for both members/non-members of Agri-TechE please sign up for our newsletter We send about 2 emails a month, and you can unsubscribe at any time
Cambridgeshire
United Kingdom
| Virtual REAP Delegate | £ 125.00 |
Start-Up Showcase Hall of Fame
One of the most popular sessions at our REAP conferences, the Start-Up Showcase features a line-up of new and exciting early stage ventures in agri-tech. Featuring in the prestigious Start-Up Showcase is the beginning of the process – most use the opportunity to issue a call-to-arms for end-user partners to help refine and / or trial the innovation, or they are seeking early adopter innovative businesses looking to integrate the latest thinking into their current practice. They may also be seeking investment to catapult their growth to the next stage of maturity. Our Hall of Fame contains some of the ventures who have featured in previous REAP Showcases – who from our 2020 line-up will be joining them?
