NEW CONFERENCE WILL FEATURE TALKS AND DEMONSTRATIONS WHICH COULD HELP BRITISH POTATO INDUSTRY MEMBERS
LANDALIVE, a new regenerative farming conference, will feature expert talks on climate-friendly farming from practitioners, advisors, soil specialists, policy makers, wildlife organisations and representatives from across the food supply chain, which could benefit British potato growers.
The event, which will take place at the Bath & West Showground, Somerset, on November 22nd and 23rd, offers two days of talks and an exhibition showcasing innovations, services and support.
LandAlive Programme Director, Graham Harvey, said: “We’ll be looking at the nuts and bolts of regenerative farming practice, but also covering what’s new in soil science, technology, changing supply chain dynamics and, of course, the shifting subsidy landscape.”
Professor Andy Neal, Rothamsted soil scientist, will outline the importance of pore-space connectivity in making soils productive while Martin Lines, CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network and farming consultant Tim Williams (Earth Farmer) will show how biodiversity and profitable farming belong together, with Tim looking at ways to increase productivity on regeneratively-managed farms.
There’ll also be a focus on how policy needs to shift to better support growers, make good food more accessible and build UK food security in the years ahead. A ‘Policy Makers’ Forum’ and talks by Sue Pritchard, Chief Executive of the Food and Farming Commission, and DEFRA’s Helen Coates, will provide updates on developments in farming and food policy reform at both a national and regional level.
The conference is a collaboration between Sustainable Food Somerset and The Royal Bath and West of England Society, supported by DEFRA’S ‘Farming in Protected Landscapes’ (FIPL) fund through Mendip, Quantocks and Exmoor National Landscapes, with support from Somerset Council.
Photo: Tom De Decker
