Can Regenerative Agriculture get us closer to net zero?
8th November 2024
Location: Sophi Taylor Building, Niab, Park Farm, Villa Road, Histon, Cambridge CB24 9NZ
W3W: agree.weedy.jazzy
Book Now
The regenerative agriculture movement has largely grown as a result of a focus on the importance of soil health to support farming system resilience. The focus has widened to include regeneration of biodiversity as well as a rediscovery of the role of biological cycles, alongside targeted use of inputs to support high quality food production. It is therefore timely to explore the role of regenerative farming in the UK in the context of both adaptation of food systems to climate change and their role in the achievement of net zero. Join us to hear experts reflect on the issues and join in discussions to identify the next steps needed and what roles all stakeholders might play.
Aims
• To explore the role that regenerative agriculture systems can play in meeting Net Zero targets
• To review the implications for all cropping systems (not just combinable crops) and consider whether changes in the underlying principles might be needed
Agenda
Morning talks 10.10 - 11.45
• Liz Bowles, Farm Carbon Toolkit - Farming for a climate positive outcome
• Andrew Ferguson, General Manager on the Leckford Estate (John Lewis Partnership) - Regenerative Agriculture and its contribution to Carbon Net Zero by 2035 on Leckford Estate, the Waitrose Farm
• Miha Pipan, CSO & Founder at Better Origin - Black soldier fly for waste valorisation and animal feed
• Dr Stéphanie Swarbreck, Niab - Nitrogen use efficiency in Wheat
• Dr Ross Morrison, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology – Greenhouse gas fluxes under different farming conditions
Break 11.45 – 12.00
Focus groups – 12.00 – 13.30
• Group 1 Led by Dr Elizabeth Stockdale, Niab – Fen soil and Paludiculture
• Group 2 led by Paul Totterdell, Cotswolds Seeds and Jon Bellamy, Niab - Economic feasibility on farm of achieving sustainable regenerative path to net zero
• Group 3 led by Dr Lydia Smith, Niab – Is more mixed farming/ cropping feasible in terms of markets and infrastructural needs?
Lunch 13.30 - 14.30
Depart