Agri-TechE Week: Raising the pulse of the UK pea and bean crop

11 November 2016

Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ

This event has no finished; members can access the report.

Peas and beans are rich in protein, gluten free, improve the soil fertility through nitrogen fixing and can break the pest cycle. So why are they not more widely grown?

This is partially because pulses have gained a reputation for being agronomically challenging to grow with unreliable yields.

This Agri-TechE Week event brought together growers and researchers to look at ways of improving consistency in pulse crop production.

Through a series of presentations, hands on demonstrations, and breakout group discussions, you’ll be taking a look at the research that can help inform agronomic practice around pulses. You’ll also be probing where the gaps remain in our collective knowledge to achieve consistently high yields for the UK pea and bean crop.

We heard from speakers and panelists including:

Pete Berry (ADAS); Becky Ward (PGRO); Pete Ianetta (James Hutton Institute); Peter Riley (Agronomist); Keith Costello (retired pea fieldsman)

There were be demonstrations from Rothamsted Research, John Innes Centre, and Niab.

Hosted by kind permission of the Rothamsted Centre for Research and Enterprise.

The day was chaired by James Wallace, Dalton Seeds.

Programme:

12.00 Arrive, registration, lunch and displays

12.45 Welcome and introduction

13.00 What we now know

• Estimating the Yield Potential of Peas – Ian Smilie, ADAS
• Product pipeline needs for a successful crop – Peter Riley, Agronomist
• Optibean – outcomes and impact and future opportunities – Becky Ward, PGRO
• Beans4Feed – outcomes and impact and future opportunities – Pete Ianetta, James Hutton Institute
• VIP – 42 years with marrowfat peas (Very Important Pea) – Keith Costello, Specialist Pea Agronomist

14.15 Breakout groups

Breakout discussions will include:

1. Roots and soils are key to legume crops success – is there any new research we can apply now?
2. Crop development and protection to maximise yield is affected by several factors – what are they and how should they be prioritised by researchers?
3. What traits should be in the pipeline to improve crop performance and seedling establishment?
4. How can we build on and further expand existing research to boost yields consistently?
5. How can agronomic and quality traits be co-developed? What do farmers and processors want?

15.15 Tea and exhibits

• Improving the field bean Vicia faba for feed and food

• Pulse protection and production

• The power of genetic variation and pre-breeding in pulses for quality and other traits

15.45 Reconvene, workshop facilitators report back in plenary

16.25 Summing up and closing comments

16.30 Event close and depart