DIT Agri-Tech team HQ are partnering with one of UK’s major arable exhibition organiser (Comexposium) to present the first ever online version of the Cereals exhibition due to the covid-19 pandemic. 

Cereals LIVE 2020 will be the first virtual edition of the yearly Cereals arable event.  

It will be taking place on the 10th & 11th June 2020. As part of DIT’s sponsorship deal, we have been provided with a hub (DIT Innovation and Tech Theatre) where there will be Webinars covering the content below through an online webinar. 

We also have a DIT microsite (Stand 163)  within the organisers website – every exhibitor at the event have one. This is the platform where visitors can interact and engage with exhibitors at the event.  

Agenda: 

11th June 2020 

13:00  13:45 

Plant Breeding Innovations 

Chaired by Anthony John, Department of International Trade 

This session explores the opportunity that plant breeding techniques such as gene editing and sequencing, alongside increasing collaboration between researchers and industry, offer in creating crops and varieties that are much fitter for a future that aims to be low in carbon and pesticide usage. 

  • Kim Hammond-Kosack, Rothamsted Research reveals a bold new resilient world in which breeding technologies will deliver resistance to aphids, take-all, septoria and slugs in the future 
  • James Brosnan, chair of the International Barley Hub, which is galvanising the research community and supply chain to address the big issues of resilience and climate change, talks about the innovations coming barley’s way 
  • Cristobal Uauy gives an insight into CRISPR gene editing technology and how it can be used to produce new varieties with benefits to farming and the environment.
  • Rob Hiles, Syngenta looks at the potential benefits of hybrid wheats, which are getting closer to becoming a commercial reality. 
  • Cristobal Uauy, Group Leader, Wheat Geneticist-Department of Crop Genetics – John Innes Centre 

14:15  15:00 

Sustainable Crop Health 

Chaired by Christopher Horne, Department of International Trade 

This session explores the new technologies in crop disease and fertiliser management including smart tools, new products and techniques. 

  • Dr Chris Hartfield, NFU introduces the NFU’s Crop Health Strategy
  • Fraser Black, CHAP CEO provides an update on Crop Pro, a smart support decision tool, which matches local growth stage to pest and disease risks – and provides spray window forecasts using bespoke weather monitoring 
  • Fiona Burnett from SRUC explores sustainable solutions and research into sustainable disease control. Ask her to cover off what is new in fungicides
  • Chris Gamble, Olmix looks at the benefits of biostimulants and how they should form a more routine part of the crop health armoury to boost crop resilience. 
  • Natalie Wood, Yara provides evidence-based nutrient decision making to get more from your soils and crops.  
  • Angela de Manzanos Guinot: Fungi Alert is a new soil health sensor that identifies what pathogens are present in the soil – a critical starting point to creating healthy soils and healthy crops  

15:30  16:15 

Data and Digital Innovation 

Chaired by Dr Anthony John, Department of International Trade 

This session explores the latest innovations in digital and data – and how farmers can access the value that lies in disruptive technologies.

  • Matthew Smith, Agrimetrics discusses getting the most from your data by addressing trust and the data market, which now offers a growing catalogue and value to the sector
  • Luke Halsey, Farm 491 CEO reviews who is doing what in software interoperability, data aggregration and AI, and how it will impact on UK arable farms
  • John Redhead, UK Centre of Ecology and Hydrology reveals a new web-based biodiversity app to help identify which parts of your farm are best used for woodland, pollinators or wildlife
  • Jack Wrangham, Drone Ag talks about Skippy Scout, a smartphone-based app which enables farmers to fly a drone to points in a field and get accurate green area index (GAI), emerging plant counts and spot weeds and insect damage 

Matthew Smith, Chief Product Officer – Agrimetrics 

Luke Halsey, Entrepreneur in Residence – Farm491 

John Redhead, Spatial Ecologist – UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology 

16:45  17:30 

Precision Farming Technologies 

Chaired by Hadyn Craig, Department of International Trade 

This session explores the current and new technologies that might be available to assist arable farmers to target pests, diseases and weeds more efficiently.

  • Jonathan Gill, HAU: Hands Free Hectare is now a Hands Free 35-acre farm where automated machines are growing arable crops remotely without operators in the driving seat or agronomists on the ground
  • Sam Watson Jones, Small Robot Company, gives an insight on farmbots Tom, Dick and Harry which plant, feed and weed arable crops autonomously with minimal waste
  • Harry Coppin, Garfords looks at the benefits and practicalities of mechanical weeding in arable rotations 
  • Nick Tillett, Tillett & Hague Technology, looks at the practicalities and benefits of spot spraying and band spraying 
  • Brian Gorham, MagGrow talks about how magnetic spraying technology is enabling farmers to cut drift and make more precise spray applications 

Jonathan Gill – Harper Adams University 

Sam Watson Jones, Co Founder – Small Robot Company 

18:00  18:45 

Precision Farming Application 

Chaired by Christopher Horne, Department of International Trade 

Precision farming technologies haven’t been as widely adopted as many hoped. This session explores the practicalities, limitations and future role of the technologies on arable farming businesses

  • Shamal Mohammed, AgriEPI Centre gives a precision vision – what works, what doesn’t and what’s coming down the line for arable farmers
  • Michael Haverty, Andersons looks at the financial and operational impacts of precision farming techniques have on the company’s loam model farm
  • Professor James Lowenberg-DeBoer, HAU discusses the financial and practical considerations of investing in crop robots
  • David Blacker, farming in the Yorks Vale, provides unique insights on precision farming technology working on his arable farming business

James Lowenberg-DeBoer, Professor at Harper Adams University 

Michael Haverty, Partner and Senior Research Consultant – The Andersons Centre 

The panels are being chaired by DIT’s Agri – Tech specialists. 

Please click this link to register for the Cereals Live 2020 event