Arable Futures
This free event is for anyone involved in the industry supply chain from growers right through to processors and to everyone interested in the sector, including those at early career stage.
Four interactive sessions will bring together people involved in arable supply chains, farming and ‘value addition’ to delve into the big questions:
What the future holds for the arable industry
Natural capital futures and benefit-risk sharing across the sector
What are the Future crops for climate resilience
Which Future skills will be needed in the arable sector
Event programme
08.30 - Refreshments on arrival and exhibition
09.30 - Welcome by Professor Rob Brooker, Director of Science, The James Hutton Institute
09.35 - Session 1 - ‘What the future holds’ for the arable industry
Hosted by the Adrian James, AHDB
Panel: Henny Lowth, AHDB; Will Callander, Preston Hall Farm; Ross Robertson, UK AgriTech Centre
10.35 - Refreshment break and exhibition
11.05 - Session 2 - ‘Natural capital futures’
Hosted by Antonia Boyce, James Hutton Institute Scientific Services
Joined by Tareq Mzek and Luz Maria Lozada, The James Hutton Institute
12.05 - Lunch and exhibition
13.30 -Session 3 - ‘Future crops’ for climate resilience
Hosted by Prof Pietro Iannetta, The James Hutton Institute/Scottish Society of Crop Research (SSCR)
Discussion: Andrew Finchley; SAC Consulting, Kirsty Black; Arbikie Distillery & Farm, Wendy Russell; The Rowett Institute
14.30 - Refreshment break and exhibition
15:00 - Session 4 - ‘Future skills’ for the arable sector - Discussion
Hosted by Dr Ken Loades, SEFARI Gateway; Clive Mitchell NatureScot and facilitated by Rob Yorke
16:00 - Wrap up and summary
16.30 – Close
The first three sessions are geared towards the fourth session, with a final wrap up session to decide actions that can be taken - and assigned to interested parties in the room – to secure future sustainability and confidence. Pre-set overarching questions primed for the room, will be complemented by discussion points and questions submitted in advance and on the day.
The event aims to create an inclusive safe space for discussions about the future of the Scottish arable sector, reflecting the voices within and across generations. It will develop a shared understanding of what the future holds, challenge us to question how the sector responds, and identify actions that could be taken to create future resilience.
More information will be released shortly.
