Arable Scotland, the country’s premier arable event featuring knowledge and solutions for the arable industry, returns to the field in 2022 with a focus on net-zero carbon emissions and markets. The one-day event will take place at Balruddery Farm near Dundee on Tuesday 5 July, 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, and is free to attend.
The theme of how to achieve net-zero emissions will run through the entire event: transforming our arable systems whilst maintaining efficiency, sustainability and profitability is one of the greatest challenges facing the farming industry. Global and local market and supply chain issues will be explored, giving delegates a chance to air their views on future arable planning in Scotland.
Delegates will be able to go on a whistle-stop tour of a core set of innovation-focused field plots, as well as having the chance to visit a mix of indoor and outdoor exhibitors, field-based demonstrations and trials.
Dr Ali Karley, an agroecologist at the James Hutton Institute and co-chair of the Arable Scotland organising committee, said: “Returning to the field after two virtual stints, Arable Scotland 2022 will be an exciting event, attracting attendees from across the arable industry and allowing them to learn from one another. Collaboration is vital to ensure the production of high-quality, efficient, resilient crops while minimising our environmental impact and reaching Scotland’s ambitious net-zero targets.
“Events like Arable Scotland bring together the entire industry and discuss how to support the thriving Scottish arable sector, while responding to environmental change and other drivers.”
This year’s programme of Arable Conversations features the following sessions:
· 10.00am: Farming for Net-Zero and Biodiversity enhancement: How can land managers improve biodiversity while reducing the carbon footprint– are there solutions that deliver both? Join researchers, farmers, and policy advisors with different experiences of agricultural interventions to evaluate where there are potential wins for climate, nature, and sustainability.
· 11.30am: Market updates and arable choices: In this conversation expert panelists will discuss the evidence available on global and local market and supply chain issues. Participants can discuss the impacts on future arable planning in Scotland and the choices to be made.
· 1.00pm: Carbon calculators and the journey to Net-Zero: Carbon calculators have their strengths and weaknesses but what will be important is that the different calculators provide comparable results for farmers. On the journey to net-zero, livestock emissions are regularly discussed while soil emissions of nitrous oxide are less so. The panel will be composed of farmers, agronomists, researchers, and policy makers to discuss the topic and the journey.
· 2.30pm: Capturing carbon in arable systems: Panellists and the audience will discuss their experiences of applying some of the multiple approaches to sequestering carbon in Scotland’s arable systems. Can a better understanding help in unlocking the multiple benefits?
Arable Scotland brings together the key players in Scottish food and drink industries from farmers to processors, distillers, and exporters to demonstrate and discuss key industry issues.
The event is delivered in partnership by the James Hutton Institute, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) with support from the Farm Advisory Service, SEFARI, Hutchinsons, the Scottish Society for Crop Research, Scottish Farmer and Agronomist and Arable Farmer magazine.
Exhibitors include Kings, Frontier Agriculture, Syngenta UK, Bayer CropScience, LG Seeds, Limagrain UK, Yara UK, SmartRural, Syngenta UK, H L Hutchinson, Rotam Europe, CPC2 Capital Park, Farming and Water Scotland, UPL, and Senova.
To book your place, please visit www.arablescotland.org.uk. Five BASIS points will be available to delegates.
