Speakers at the Soya to Sustainability conference have been confirmed. The event takes place at Peterborough on Wednesday 22nd January.
Headline speaker Philip Lymbery will emphasise the urgent need for change in our food systems. Philip is Global Chief Executive of Compassion in World Farming and author of Sixty Harvests Left: How to Reach a Nature-Friendly Future.
Gemma Hoskins, UK Director for Mighty Earth will stress the importance of robust regulations if British businesses are to eradicate illegal deforestation in soy supply chains. Over half of the soybeans imported by the UK for animal feed comes from Brazil. Her recent report Foul Play linked Brazilian soy to UK animal feed, and with recent figures suggesting an increase in deforestation the need to address this has never been more pertinent.
Other speakers include scientists and experts from the NCS Project (Nitrogen Efficient Plants for Climate Smart Arable Cropping Systems) who believe that reducing our food system’s dependency on imported soya lies in increased production and use of peas and beans.
The line-up includes Pete Ianetta (The James Hutton Institute), Jos Houdjik (SRUC), John McArthur (McArthur BDC), Tom Allen-Stevens (British On-Farm Innovation Network) and Lee Truelove (First Milk). Agrii agronomist Todd Jex will share his expertise on the benefits of beans and his secrets to pulse crops that perform consistently well. James Webster-Rusk of The Andersons Centre will share outcomes from the NCS Project’s first Cost-Benefit Analysis, which scrutinises the impact of increased use and consumption of UK-grown pulses.
Delegates will also hear from ‘Pulse Pioneers’ – farmers involved in the project’s on-farm trials. Rob Waterston and Paul Barnes will share their experiences with growing pulses, with John Seed also discussing his success with removing soya from his poultry unit’s diet.
Roger Vickers of PGRO and lead of the NCS Project said: “We must have collective action if we are to tackle the problems associated with our industry’s dependency on imported soy. I urge anyone in the sector to make use of this opportunity to hear the need for change, to future proof their businesses, contribute towards a more robust food system and ultimately a healthier planet.”
BASIS members can claim four CPD points for attending. To find out more and secure tickets, visit www.tinyurl.com/FSTSconference.
