Sustainable food systems require a collaborative response and this is a theme for Agri-Tech Week 2019.
The week will include seven events hosted by members of Agri-Tech East. Each is aimed at showcasing different ways that agri-tech is providing an innovative response to the challenges of food production in a time of environmental change and population expansion. There are opportunities to network and to discuss the expertise, funding and support that is available to nurture entrepreneurial thinking.
Monday 4th November
13.00 – 16.00: Collaborating to drive Agri-Tech Innovation on the NRP
Improving the resilience of agriculture in the face of rapid environmental change and the use of plants and microbes as factories are two of the areas where research institutes on the Norwich Research Park (NRP) have particular strengths. Its six science partners form an international centre of excellence in life and environmental sciences research. The campus has attracted a good number of early stage companies as tenants benefit from access to the expertise and capitally intensive equipment located on the park.
18.00 – 20.00: Getting Value from AI in agriculture – Institute for Agricultural Management / University of Lincoln
Food production is a multi-factorial system – if it was possible to model the food systems it would be possible to identify which factors would have the most benefit in improving yield, nutritional quality and sustainability. Dr Matthew Smith, Director of Business Development at Microsoft, will be the guest speaker at this Agri-Tech Week event, which will explore what AI is, how agriculture will get value from AI and how the technology will enable “farm to fork” transformation.
Tuesday 5th November
13.30 – 18.00: Inspiring the next generation of agri-tech innovation – Rothamsted Research/University of Herts
Bringing new thinking into the industry has a particular urgency now with the acceleration of climate change. Rothamsted Research is the oldest long-term research centre and its experiments provide unique insights into the impact of land use on soil fertility. It is one of the partners in the SHAKE Climate Change programme, one of the funding opportunities to be discussed at the event, which is designed to attract entrepreneurs with science or tech-based ideas that can have a significant impact on climate change. The University of Hertfordshire also offers support for commercialisation.
Wednesday 6th November
10.00 – 17.00: REAP conference – Innovating towards One Agriculture – Agri-Tech East
The recent UN’s IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Land concluded that sustainable land management can contribute to reducing the negative impacts of multiple stressors including climate change. Health, ecosystems and food production are inextricably linked by best practice in farming and that many response options can be applied without competing for land and have the potential to provide multiple co-benefits.
This statement underpins the importance of ‘One Agriculture’ – a concept based on the understanding that everything is interconnected. Agri-Tech East is considering at its 2019 REAP conference the innovation that is required to deliver this approach to food systems.
Thursday 7th November
09.00 – 12.30: Irrigation and Evaporation – The Latest in Best Practice and Agri-Tech – (Norfolk) AHDB
This workshop aims to enhance best practice and use of irrigation in East Anglia and encourage debate and discussion about efficient water use and ways of improvement for businesses, as well as showcase the latest tools and technology in agri-tech in this area.
13.00 – 17.30: Agri-Tech in Action – Easton and Otley College / RNAA
Farming for the future with Vaderstad seed eye, GPS monitoring for livestock and crop nutrition without fertiliser are among the presentations at the Agri-Tech Week event to be held at Easton and Otley College and supported by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA).
The college provides hands-on practical training in land-based disciplines and the presentations will include demonstrations and discussion.
Friday 8th November
11.45 – 16.00: Baby leaf – a growing resource from field to tunnel – NIAB
Salad crops are required all year around, delivering this cost-effectively without the need to import over the winter months will help improve the competitiveness of the industry. This Agri-Tech Week event at NIAB will look at evolving salad genetics, innovation in hydroponics, field cultivation of baby leaf, novel cultivation practices and market trends in this interactive workshop.
Agri-Tech Week provides an opportunity to meet a wide range of people in a short time period and so makes an excellent platform for a trade mission. A number of international visitors have attended in previous years and we anticipate this will again be popular this year.
If you would like to discuss your requirements do please get in contact.