Sustainable varieties take centre stage at Cereals 2024

Farmers with an interest in the future of the cereals and oilseeds sector and evidence-based resources should visit the AHDB stand (526) at Cereals 2024.

On the stand, seminar sessions will take centre stage, including a debate about getting the most sustainable varieties of cereals and oilseeds to UK farmers.

The event, which takes place on 11 and 12 June in Hertfordshire, will also see AHDB issue a new planning soil management pack, provide details about the recently launched Environment Baselining Pilot and encourage RB209 users to take part in a review of nutrient management guidance.

Taking place at 3:00pm on 11 June, the sustainable varieties debate forms part of celebrations to mark 80 years since the release of the first Recommended Lists (RL) in 1944.

The debate will include contributions from:

• Jenna Watts, AHDB Head of Crop Health & IPM
• Paul Gosling, AHDB RL Manager
• Russ McKenzie, arable farmer and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds sector council member
• Michael Brown, Head of Plant Variety and Seeds, APHA
• Richard Summers, plant breeder (RAGT) and RL board member
• Nick Pitts, Supply Chain Sustainability Manager, Scotch Whisky Research Institute (SWRI) 

The latest developments from the RL review, which saw over 900 people provide views on the RL’s future, will be presented at the debate. This will include the release of the initial findings from two scoping reviews that examined evidence of varietal responses under lower-input scenarios (nitrogen and fungicides, respectively).

The complexity associated with the provision of robust variety performance information for a wide range of UK farming systems will be discussed, with the next steps outlined.

The debate will look beyond the RL, including how incentives may be required to stimulate the supply of more sustainable varieties.

Graham Wilkinson, who became the new CEO of AHDB earlier this year, will conclude the debate, before cutting the 80-year RL anniversary cake at 4:00pm. Graham will be on hand to answer any questions about AHDB.

Visitors will also be able to pick up the latest edition of the RL, and find out about the RL app and other digital resources.

The full programme will prime debate on a wide range of topics central to the future of farming.

12:00pm: Environment Baselining Pilot – Forging a fairer and more resilient path towards net zero by 2050.

2:00pm: Where next for production, prices and profits? – Ask the AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds market analysts.

3:00pm: Varieties for a sustainable UK cereals sector – What can crop breeding deliver?

4:00pm: 80 years of the RL – A celebration with Graham Wilkinson, AHDB CEO.

9:00am: Women in cereals – The value of mentoring (a networking breakfast).

11:00am: Growing cover crops – How to get the best return from your investment (farmer experiences).

2:00pm: Are the days of field walking coming to an end? – Are remote sensing, digital farming and AI the future?

In addition to the RL, the stand will showcase three other technical areas to provide farmers with evidence-based information and opportunities to direct research:

• The Nutrient Management Guide: Visitors can pick up copies of the latest edition and feed in their views to the RB209 review
• Planning soil management: A new pack will be available to help farmers use the soil health scorecard
• Environment Baselining Pilot: Levy payers can find out how to apply to become one of 170 GB pilot farms

AHDB’s regional knowledge exchange managers will also be on the stand to:

• Talk about AHDB Strategic Cereal Farms, Monitor Farms and Arable Business Groups
• Sign up visitors to AHDB products, tools and services
• Discuss how AHDB invests the levy

Resources will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For the latest information about AHDB at Cereals 2024, visit: ahdb.org.uk/cereals-2024