Cereals will introduce a brand new seminar stage this year, tracing the arable supply chain from seed in the field to products on the shelf.
Sponsored by KWS, the Seed to Shelf stage will host two days of talks from plant breeders, agronomists, contractors and machinery manufacturers, as well as grain marketers, processors and retailers.
“We understand the critical role the arable supply chain has in producing sustainable food sources that feed our country now and for future generations, and we are delighted to be the sponsor for the Seed to Shelf feature at Cereals 2024,” said Dr Kirsty Richards, conventional crops product manager at KWS.
The programme will start with NFU president Tom Bradshaw and Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries Mark Spencer, followed by a panel discussion on regenerative agriculture and the future of crop breeding.
Bill Angus of Angus Wheat Consultants Ltd, will be on the panel and says the topic of regenerative agriculture always makes for a contentious debate due to the many interpretations of the phrase. “My definition is that regenerative agriculture is what farmers should have been doing for the past 30 years or so but were incentivised not to do it. So now, we have to repair the damage of past agricultural policies.
“Ultimately, a lot of varieties are bred for the Recommended List. Therefore, there has to be a mechanism where breeders are incentivised – not necessarily financially – to develop different traits. The genetic variability is absolutely there though.”
Agronomist and Arable Farmer editor Richard Lawrence will head up the next seminar, updating the audience on the latest advances in crop protection, nutrition and agronomy. While Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer editor Matthew Tilt will chair a discussion about how modern machinery is helping growers to be more sustainable.
Amazone’s Simon Brown will take part in the discussion, as well as Nigel Honeyman from New Holland and Stephen Howarth from the Agricultural Engineers Association.
Lancashire farmer and Youtuber Olly Harrison is also set to appear on the panel. “Machinery manufacturers have recognised that they’ve got to be producing sustainable machinery,” he said. “Some of the technology that’s available on drills now, for example, allows us to use no-till techniques to protect the soil which is vital. I’m looking forward to hearing more from the manufacturers about their plans for the future and the direction which machinery is heading in.”
The NAAC will also head up a session, looking at the economics of using a contractor, while recruitment specialist Guy Moreton will be explaining how to recruit the next generation across the full supply chain.
Looking at the business end of the supply chain, Charlie Reeve, business reporter at the Farmers Weekly will be joined by grain traders and other key industry experts to discuss what’s happening in global grain markets.
Andrew Meredith, editor at Farmers Weekly, will then look at the future prospects of green premiums. “What we have continually heard from producers in recent years is they are willing to adapt to market requirements if the reward is adequate,” he said.
“It has been encouraging to see innovation in the marketplace already from startups like Wildfarmed and new schemes from established players, like Carlsberg.
“I hope our panel of experts will be able to share insights on whether the majority of cereal growers should expect to have to comply with additional growing standards linked to environmental outcomes in future and have a lovely discussion on the merits of that.”
Tickets for Cereals are available at www.cerealsevent.co.uk. FC readers who have yet to grab a ticket can use the discount code FCLSFCE24WV to knock 50% off at checkout.