REAP provides a unique opportunity for producers and growers to voice their needs and for technologists, entrepreneurs and investors to gain a deep insight into the challenges facing this exciting industry sector.
By 2030 the UK will need the equivalent of 7 million more hectares of land to support our growing population. It is estimated that with ‘smart use’ of land and technology, we could release more benefit from existing land resources, and Agri-Tech East proposes that the East of England takes a lead in identifying what ‘smart use’ actually means. This will be explored at the conference.
Dr Belinda Clarke, Director of Agri-Tech East, says: “We now have a perfect storm where there is a clearly articulated market need for innovation and an appetite for change.
“Agri-Tech East proposes that the East of England, the crucible of the agricultural revolution, takes a lead in identifying what ‘smart use’ means in the real world.”
Innovation is needed, not only in the way we develop new varieties of crops that can perform well under adverse environments, but also in the way these crops are grown, harvested and processed. For farmers and growers ‘total factor productivity’ is the key consideration and a sound evidence base is required for the uptake of new approaches and disruptive technologies.
(Image removed)To better understand the issues facing farmers and growers, to showcase some of the most interesting technologies emerging from the region and enable better knowledge transfer, four well-respected organisations – Agri-Tech East, the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association, the Suffolk Agricultural Association, and the Home Grown Cereals Authority – have joined forces to present Agri-Tech Week 2014.
The REAP Conference at NIAB Park Farm in Impington, Cambridge, on November 12th is a major part.
It will feature speakers from across the industry including:
- Ian Noble, Senior Director at PepsiCo and member of the UK Agri-Tech Leadership Council
- Richard Burkinshaw, European Environmental Strategy Manager at Kelloggs
- Helen Ferrier, Chief Science and Regulatory Affairs Adviser for the NFU
- Bill Clark, Commercial and Technical Director for NIAB
- Tony Bambridge, MD of B&C Farming
- Richard Hirst of Hirst Farms
- Ed Moorhouse, Group Technical Director of G’s Fresh
- Jeremy Macklin, Director of Technology and Innovation at Hutchinsons
- Calum Murray, Programme Leader, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Innovation Platform, Innovate UK
The event will also feature a Start-Up Showcase highlighting new commercial agri-tech opportunities.
The conference will be held on Wednesday 12 November 2014, 10:00 – 17:00 at:
Sophi Taylor Building, NIAB Park Farm
Villa Road
Impington
Cambridge CB24 9NZ
See a map here
Registration: To register your attendance for the REAP conference please click here.
Find out more by visiting the REAP page.
Find out more about Agri-Tech Week.
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