Free webinar explores progression of precision breeding
Farmers are invited to attend a free webinar about precision-bred crops, including updates on legislation around the technology, and the opportunity to become one of the first farmers across Europe to grow them.
Organised by partners in the PROBITY project, the online event will take place on Wednesday 16th April from 8.30 to 9.30am via Zoom.
PROBITY – a Platform to Rate Organisms Bred for Improved Traits and Yield – is a three-year, £2.2m farmer-led project, funded by Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme which is delivered by Innovate UK. It is led by the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) with 11 partner organisations.
Professor Cristóbal Uauy, John Innes Centre
Professor Cristóbal Uauy, Director designate of the John Innes Centre, will outline how scientists use precision breeding techniques such as gene editing to develop innovative crop traits, and the potential benefits this could bring sustainable food and farming.
Professor Nigel Halford of Rothamsted Research, Dr Dylan Phillips of Aberystwyth University and Tom Allen-Stevens of BOFIN will discuss the implications of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act and the recently drafted secondary legislation. They will also discuss upcoming opportunities for arable farmers in England to get involved in the PROBITY project.
Finally, Tom Allen-Stevens will be joined by fellow farmer Paul Temple who was involved in the GM field-scale evaluations around 25 years ago. Paul will share his experiences and why he supports the development of precision-bred crops in England.
Tom Allen-Stevens said: “With potential benefits including enhanced nutrient efficiency, better resistance to pests and disease, improved nutrition and reduced environmental impact, it’s essential that we explore this technology further through on-farm trials.
“I encourage all farmers to join our webinar, invest in their knowledge, ask questions and then continue the discussion afterwards via our online Sequence Circle community.”
There are two novel wheat lines currently being multiplied up for seed which will be available to for up to 20 growers to drill this autumn. A precision-bred barley will be available for planting on around five farms in spring 2026.
All farmers are encouraged to take the #PROBITYPledge by spending an hour finding out about precision-bred crops and bringing their views to the Sequence Circle. These are being analysed by University of Nottingham and will feed into recommendations on how precision-bred crops are taken forward in England. Find out more at www.bofin.org.uk/probitypledge
Farmer and scientist collaboration helps to unearth soil secrets
Farmers and scientists working on the TRUTH Project have revealed some intriguing findings from their first year of working together.
TRUTH (Thriving Roots Underpinning Total soil Health) is a three-year £1m project with twin aims of boosting productivity while improving soil health. The project is led by the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) with four partners UK Agri-Tech Centre, the John Innes Centre, University of Nottingham and PES Technologies.
Ten ‘Root Ranger’ farmers were paid to carry out on-farm trials in year one (2024), with an additional 10 recruited recently for year two (2025). The Root Rangers’ farms represent varied soil types, across conventional, regenerative and organic systems. They are based across the UK from East Lothian in Scotland to Downpatrick in Northern Ireland and as far south as the Isle of Wight. The farmers each chose a treatment they wanted to assess and have been trained in soil sampling methods.
Microorganism discovery
Dr Tom Thirkell of Crop Science Centre in Cambridge is an expert in mycorrhizal fungi which he has been studying in wheat root samples taken by the Root Rangers. As well as healthy populations of mycorrhiza, Tom’s analysis of the Root Rangers’ samples has also uncovered some “unidentified foreign organisms” (UFOs).
Some of these appear to be bacteria, while others are likely to belong to an ancient but newly-described group of fungi known as Mucoromycotina.
Tom said: “We believe these can also form beneficial interactions with cereal crop roots, but there has been very little study of them compared to the arbuscular mycorrhizas.”
They were found in several samples and are not unique to a specific type of farm. “They are random in how they crop up, but a strength of this project is that we can repeat these tests in years two and three and see if there are any patterns.”
Tom also hopes that DNA sequencing of these samples may be possible in future, so that the ‘UFOs’ can be identified.
His findings from year one suggest that variations in fungal presence are influenced more by individual farms’ management practices, rather than the different treatments being trialled, but repetition of sampling in years two and three will develop this understanding further.
“There is a lot going on underground, but it can be uncovered through collaboration with farmers and other researchers through projects like TRUTH. It’s been well-documented that farm management impacts the soil microbiome. Moving forward, with an increased focus on sustainability and reduced chemical use, it is going to become more important.”
Microbial analysis
Dr Maria Hernandez-Soriano of the John Innes Centre is leading a fascinating investigation into soil microbial diversity. Her work involves analysing DNA from soil samples collected by Root Rangers across 10 farms, revealing a staggering 15,686 individual species.
At the John Innes Centre laboratories in Norwich some 222 samples from the Root Rangers were carefully processed to extract the DNA. The DNA was then prepared for sequencing by specialists to ensure the best quality analysis, and finally sent to a leading provider of sequencing services.
The scientists then compiled a ‘library’ of all the DNA found in the samples, naming matched sequences using extensive databases. The result is a vast spreadsheet listing all the individual species found in each sample – a total of 15,686 across the Root Rangers’ soils. From there the data was analysed, drawing comparisons across different systems and the whole dataset, but also drilling down into individual farms’ results to assess and compare diversity.
Maria said: “At the moment the results are suggesting that management is the strongest influence.” In particular, the organic farmers amongst the Root Rangers had the most diverse samples with a significant difference in nitrification too.
Diversity is important because these microbes work together as part of a complex network, both in cooperation with each other and regulating their different roles in soil. “It’s a huge community – some of which we know a lot about while others are yet to be characterised.”
Understanding the activity of nitrification bacteria helps in improving nitrogen use efficiency, Maria added. She has been looking closely at two of the most prevalent nitrifying communities, Nitrososphaera and Nitroscosmicus archaea. These have become the biomarkers in the rhizosphere of modern cultivars following N-fertiliser application, to the detriment of other communities, she explained.
“The abundance of these microbes in soil dramatically increases when you apply ammonium-based fertilisers, rapidly turning ammonium into nitrate, which is highly soluble and easily lost to the environment through leaching or gas emission as nitrous oxide.”
Year two of the project will focus more on the rhizosphere and now with 20 Root Rangers on board the sampling will produce an even stronger dataset.
“Working on the TRUTH project is a dream,” says Maria. “The farmers have been brilliant, and have sent us quality samples meaning that scientists like me can focus on what we do best. Through our work together we can deliver information that is of real value to the farmers.”
A 360 view of soil health
The Root Rangers have also been given a unique view of their soil structure and root systems through X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) scanning.
Dr Craig Sturrock of the University of Nottingham explained that CT scans were used to compare soil ‘cores’ from the different farms. The farmers took samples from their chosen fields of first winter wheat using sections of plastic pipe (15 cm x 8 cm). These were hammered into the ground before being carefully excavated to preserve the structure of the soil and roots inside. Each of the Root Rangers took 10 samples in a typical w-formation, five samples from the treated area under scrutiny in their trials and five from the untreated area.
Craig explained: “It’s been a really exciting first year of the project, using the imaging technology to visualise the structure of soils across the UK, completely non-destructively, which is usually really difficult to see.
“We’ve found some nice differences between the soils. There’s variation between geographical location, soil texture, treatments, and differences in the root structure.”
The research highlighted the impact of management practices, such as ploughing and grazing. The results were not always as expected, with ploughed soil showing minimal differences to min or no-till. This may have been related to the time of sample collection being relatively late in the growth season (May 2024), where the soil has had time to settle after cultivation the previous autumn. “This year we plan to sample in March so tillage differences between sites may be more apparent.”
In year two the Root Rangers will repeat the sampling process, but this time with five soil cores just from untreated areas.
Craig concluded: “I’m really looking forward to year two of the project, seeing how the results will look and what more we can learn from repeating the sampling.”
Root Ranger feedback
Anna Pearce is an organic farmer and seed producer from Northumberland. She joined the TRUTH project as she was keen to work with scientists to learn more about the health of the soil on her farm.
She said: “As farmers we don’t often get the opportunity to interact with scientists and this is a huge opportunity to be able to put our heads together.” Anna was particularly interested to find out how her soil compared to other farms and to see the soil core CT scans.
“It is fascinating to see pictures of what is under the ground,” she said. “It was reassuring to learn that my soil copes well with being lightly ploughed and that there is enough life in it to repair any changes to structure.”
Hertfordshire farm manager Ted Allen-Stevens also welcomed the opportunity to take part in the project, particularly as it validated the introduction of regenerative practices on the farm.
He said: “When I saw our results from the TRUTH project I felt that I had some real evidence that soil health had improved since we brought in regenerative practices here.
“It’s only when you drill down into the detail of your own farm that you can get that substance and reassurance of what you’re actually achieving.”
Next steps
The second year of the project will build on the successes so far, with the soil/root testing tools under further scrutiny by the farmers and scientists. An innovative soil health sensor, developed by PES Technologies, will also be circulated amongst the Root Rangers who will put it through their paces. The sensor is designed to measure microbial diversity and fungal:bacterial ratio.
Also, in year two novel wheat varieties are being multiplied ready for trialling on Root Rangers’ farms in the final year of the project. These include a ‘remarkable’ variety that can moderate its own nitrogen supply. Originating from Iran, this particular wheat landrace is part of the historic Watkins collection at JIC.
Maria Hernandez-Soriano explained: “What is interesting about this particular wheat, is that it has demonstrated capacity to decrease the transformation of ammonium into nitrate in the soil. This is believed to be an adaptive trait.”
It means much less nitrogen from fertilisers potentially being lost to the environment and more being taken up and used by the wheat plant itself, because it is controlling the transformation in soil and optimising the uptake.
“We haven’t observed that same capability or trait in any commercial wheat cultivars yet, so that is remarkable.”
Tom Allen-Stevens, managing director of the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) which leads the project said: “The quality of samples and resulting data has proven again the value of on-farm trials and what can be gained when farmers and scientists work together.
“There is a huge appetite amongst farmers to learn more about soil health. This project is paving the way for discoveries about how we can improve the long-term productivity of our farms through improved understanding and management of our most precious resource.”
TRUTH is funded by the Farming Futures R&D fund, part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme. Defra is working in partnership with Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency, who are delivering the programme. TRUTH is led by BOFIN alongside PES Technologies, UK Agri-Tech Centre (which is responsible for project management), John Innes Centre and University of Nottingham.
North Norfolk MP Steff Aquarone highlighted the potential for gene-edited crops to revolutionise farming in a speech to the House of Commons last week.
Speaking in the Inheritance Tax debate on Monday 10th February Mr Aquarone emphasised the importance of local farmers as custodians of the environment and key contributors to the rural economy.
North Norfolk MP Steff Aquarone
The MP pointed out that North Norfolk’s proximity to the Norwich Research Park makes it an ideal testing ground for advancements in gene editing of crops. He said: “Family farms in Norfolk are the perfect test bed for the latest in gene editing of crops, which can bring about higher yields, smaller carbon footprints and less need for pesticides.”
Mr Aquarone’s speech comes as the UK government progresses secondary legislation to support precision breeding techniques. The PROBITY project, launched in 2024, aims to bring precision-bred cereal varieties onto commercial farms in England for the first time in Europe.
Farmers and other agricultural professionals are encouraged to join the #PROBITYPledge campaign to engage in discussions about precision-bred crops. To take part and learn more visit www.bofin.org.uk/probitypledge
Government’s commitment to deliver the secondary legislation required for farmers in England to grow precision-bred crops by the end of March has been welcomed by partners in a major project.
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed said: “Precision breeding offers huge potential to transform the plant breeding sector in England, enabling innovative products to be commercialised in years, instead of taking decades.”
The legislation would ‘unlock’ precision breeding technology to allow farmers in England to grow crops that are “more nutritious, resistant to pests and disease, resilient to climate change, and that benefit the environment,” he said.
The Genetic Technologies (Precision Breeding) Act was passed in 2023, and the secondary legislation will mean that crops developed using precision breeding techniques such as gene editing will be able to enter the food chain.
Partners in the PROBITY project – which is bringing gene-edited cereal varieties into trials on commercial farms – welcomed the announcement. PROBITY (A Platform to Rate Organisms Bred for Improved Trait and Yield) is a three-year, £2.2m farmer-led project, funded by Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme Small R&D Partnership Round 3.
Prof Nigel Halford, Rothamsted Research and PROBITY project Technical Lead
The project’s Technical Lead Professor Nigel Halford of Rothamsted Research said: “It is great news that the government is moving forward with this.
“Many parts of the world are way ahead of us on precision breeding, and we need to catch up.”
Tom Allen-Stevens is an Oxfordshire farmer and founder of The British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) which leads the PROBITY project.
He explained: “While countries in Asia and the Americas are way ahead of the UK on this, The Genetic Technologies Act created some competitive advantage – for farmers in England at least – within Europe. However, without the necessary secondary legislation it would be meaningless as farmers wouldn’t know if they would be able to sell crops created through precision breeding.
“Our concern now is that the legislation comes into effect in time, to enable us to progress our trials, planned to start this autumn. These trials are essential if farmers are to assess whether this technology will deliver the benefits expected.”
MP campaign
The British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) has written to MPs to stress the importance of the secondary legislation to the advancement of precision breeding and invite them to learn more about precision breeding by taking part in its PROBITY Pledge campaign
“We want an informed discussion so that everyone in the industry understands precision breeding and has the opportunity to shape how it comes into UK fields,” the letter says. “Our PROBITY Pledge campaign invites anyone with an interest in agriculture to spend a minimum of one hour learning about precision breeding and what it could mean for sustainable food production and to share their views with our online community The Sequence Circle.”
The long-awaited ADOPT fund will launch this spring, but the government has not confirmed if it will commit the previously promised £44 million.
The fund was first announced in November 2023 as part of the Farming Innovation Programme, by former Environment Secretary Steve Barclay. Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT), promised businesses the opportunity to apply for a share of £44 million to test and trial new technology and techniques on farms. However, the new government put it on hold.
Speaking at Oxford Farming Conference today Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed confirmed that ADOPT would go ahead this spring. It would fund farmer-led trials “to bridge the gap between new technologies and their real-world application” he said. However, when questioned he failed to confirm the value of the total fund, saying that the Treasury would confirm this in subsequent announcements.
Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed
“Our intention is to support these schemes and innovation because the future of the sector is dependent on getting that right,” he said.
Oxfordshire farmer and founder of the British On-Farm Innovation Network Tom Allen-Stevens said: “This fund is desperately needed and should never have been put on hold, so it is welcome news that it is now finally being rolled out.
“Farmers need access to the latest technology and innovation which is most appropriate to their businesses. ADOPT is a very exciting programme which should make it possible to bring new tech onto farms to thoroughly test what does and doesn’t deliver.
Tom Allen-Stevens
“While Reed acknowledged the role of innovation in agriculture, he failed to commit to restarting other measures of the Farming Innovation Programme, importantly the Farming Equipment Technology Fund,” he continued.
“This stimulus is desperately needed as we have already seen manufacturers diverting investment in innovation away from the UK since it went on hold last year.”
Imagine you’re tending to your garden and notice a plant that’s struggling to thrive. What if you could rewrite its genetic instructions to make it stronger, more resilient, or even tastier?
That’s essentially what precision breeding for plants aims to do.
What are plant genes?
Just like humans, plants have genes that act as instruction manuals. These genes, made up of DNA, tell the plant how to grow, when to flower, how big its fruit should be, and even how to defend itself against pests. Every plant has its own unique set of genetic instructions.
So, what is precision breeding in plants?
Precision-bred crops can be created through gene editing.
Gene editing is a technique that allows scientists to make precise changes to a plant’s DNA.
It’s like having a pair of molecular secateurs that can snip out specific parts of the genetic code. The most well-known gene editing tool is called CRISPR, which has revolutionised plant breeding since its discovery.
It’s important to note here that gene editing is not the same as genetic modification as no foreign DNA is left in the plant. The changes made through gene editing are the same as those which could occur naturally.
How is gene editing useful in plants?
Gene editing in plants has several exciting applications:
Creating crops that are more resistant to diseases or pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.
Developing plants that can better withstand drought or extreme temperatures, helping farmers adapt to climate change.
Enhancing the nutritional value of food crops.
Improving the taste or appearance of fruits and vegetables.
Is it controversial?
Like many new technologies, gene editing in plants has sparked debate. Some worry about potential unintended consequences on ecosystems or whether gene-edited plants should be labelled differently in shops. But as the changes made through gene editing are the same as those that occur naturally, there is no greater risk than plants developed through traditional breeding.
Introducing the PROBITY project
The BOFIN-led PROBITY project was launched in August 2024. It brings together experts from 12 organisations including plant scientists, social scientists, supply chain experts and food manufacturers as well as farmers.
Seed from precision-bred cereal varieties developed in small quantities by scientists at John Innes Centre in Norwich and Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire will be multiplied up. This will then enable around 25 selected farmers to trial the crops on their own farms.
Each of these varieties have potential benefits to sustainable food and farming:
A wheat with superior baking, toasting and processing properties
A barley that high lipid, high energy
High performance wheat which promises a step change in productivity
Every step of the way the seed, crops and harvested wheat and barley will be tested and scrutinised by the farmers, scientists and food researchers. They want to find out how these traits perform and to fully understand the benefits and challenges. It will also include discussion with people from across the supply chain, including consumers, on their feelings and attitudes to producing, sourcing and ultimately eating food made from gene edited crops.
Interested? Find out more:
If you’re keen to explore this subject further take the #PROBITYPledge to receive further resources in your inbox. Then, get involved with online discussion around precision breeding at The Sequence Circle where you can share views and ask questions.
A campaign launched today invites farmers and others from across the industry to engage in a nationwide discussion on precision bred crops and their potential impact on UK agriculture.
As the Government moves forward with legislation to support precision breeding, the #PROBITYPledge campaign will provide farmers with accurate information and a platform to voice their opinions.
Precision-bred crops can be created through gene editing, a widely used technology that enables scientists to make changes to plant DNA, like those that occur naturally, but introduced in a precise, targeted manner. Gene editing speeds up the process of breeding more productive, nutritional and sustainable crop varieties.
The campaign is being coordinated by the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) which leads the PROBITY project. The three-year multi-partner project, launched in August this year, is bringing precision-bred cereal varieties onto commercial farms for the first time across Europe. An integral part of the project is the creation of an open and transparent forum to discuss the creation, production, processing and use of precision-bred crops.
Learning opportunity
The #PROBITYPledge campaign asks farmers to pledge a minimum of one hour in the next six months, to learn about precision breeding and share views via The Sequence Circle online forum.
Tom Allen-Stevens, Oxfordshire farmer and founder of BOFIN said: “This is a topic which will have an enormous impact on sustainable food and farming, so it’s important to make time to discuss it.
“As farmers we are the gatekeepers of precision-breeding technology and must lead the discussion on how it is introduced to create a trusted pathway for food manufacturers to deliver its potential benefits to consumers.
“The PROBITY Pledge campaign asks farmers to commit at least one hour to equip themselves with knowledge of this technology and how it could impact them and their businesses. We want to hear diverse views – what do you think, what are your hopes and fears are for precision breeding, and what questions do you have about gene editing?
“Our Sequence Circle community hosted on The Farming Forum includes some incredible scientists who are well placed to help answer those questions.”
Open to all
The campaign is not limited to farmers, he added. “Anyone with an interest in the future or food and farming is welcome to make the #PROBITYPledge, sign up and get involved with learning and discussing this technology.”
Gathering and analysing opinions is a key part of the PROBITY project and because contributions to The Sequence Circle hosted on The Farming Forum will be used (anonymously) by researchers, those signing up need to be over 18 years of age.
For more information on the #PROBITYPledge campaign and to get involved click HERE
UK agri-tech specialists Farmscan Ag and Fotenix have become partners in a major project to develop autonomous monitoring and control of arable farming’s biggest pest.
Strategies Leading to Improved Management and Enhanced Resilience Against Slugs (SLIMERS) is a three-year £2.6m Defra-funded research programme involving more than 100 UK farms and seven partner organisations. Led by the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN), the project was launched in 2023 to understand slug behaviour and develop two commercial offerings.
These will help farmers by locate slugs in fields and provide precise and autonomous control with biocontrol agents containing nematodes. This will decrease reliance on chemical control of slugs, which are responsible for some £43m of damage to crops across the UK when adequate control is not in place.
Fotenix and Farmscan Ag are working directly with UK Agri-Tech Centre to develop the autonomous monitoring and control element of SLIMERS, led by project technical lead Dr Jenna Ross OBE, who developed it within the SlugBot project, previously funded by Innovate UK.
Dr Jenna Ross OBE
Callum Chalmers, Farmscan Ag
Charles Keys, Fotenix
Dr Ross said: “We are delighted to welcome Fotenix and Farmscan AG to the SLIMERS consortium. Their combined technologies, knowledge and experience will be fundamental in developing the autonomous slug monitoring and control system, thus bringing more sustainable, cost-effective slug control to the industry.”
Charles Veys, co-founder and director of Fotenix said: “SLIMERS is an ambitious project, but for me the most exciting element is deploying new and cutting-edge detection onto traditional farm equipment. It will be challenging but we are looking forward to bringing our expertise and working with Farmscan Ag and the wider team to make it happen.”
Callum Chalmers, director of Farmscan Ag added: “We’re really excited about bringing a targeted and precise approach to dealing with slugs that is also autonomous. It needs to be commercially viable and farmer ready which is easy to say, but harder to make it a reality. Working with BOFIN and its farmer members is going to be really important.”
Tom Allen-Stevens, Oxfordshire farmer and founder of BOFIN said: “Finding a smart way to control slugs is vital given the huge pressures farmers are under to produce food crops as sustainably as possible. It’s great to have Fotenix and Farmscan Ag on board as partners and we are excited to work with them to bring their innovations from the drawing board into farmers’ fields.”
The work will also help support research led by Prof Keith Walters at Harper Adams University, which has identified patterns of slug behaviour including their propensity to gather in patches, and the use of soil data to locate these patches.
Researchers are hosting a free workshop for anyone interested in gene editing across food and farming.
The workshop is at the NAEC, Stoneleigh on day one of CropTec (11.30am to 1.30pm on November 27th). It is the first of such workshops to be held as part of the PROBITY project.
PROBITY – A Platform to Rate Organisms Bred for Improved Traits and Yield – is a three-year £2.2m farmer-led project with 11 research and industry partners. Led by the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) it is funded by Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme which is delivered by Innovate UK.
Precision-bred crops are created through gene editing – a widely used technology that allows scientists to make precise changes to specific genes in plants, that could have occurred naturally.
As well as trialling precision-bred crops on farms for the first time, the project is also exploring opinions on their adoption – particularly from farmers but also within the wider industry and amongst consumers.
Oxfordshire farmer and founder of BOFIN Tom Allen-Stevens said: “Scientists believe that precision-bred crops can bring gains for productivity and sustainability, but we need to know how farmers and others in the industry feel about their introduction.
“This first workshop will explore the current perceptions and stumbling blocks. Our Sequence Circle online community will then host further discussions and resources going forward.”
The workshop is part of a two-day programme organised by BOFIN to run alongside CropTec at NAEC, Stoneleigh. As well as the workshop day one will also include a session at 10am to introduce the project and officially launch The Sequence Circle.
On day two (November 28th) BOFIN is hosting sessions to share results and insight from their NCS and TRUTH projects. Visitors are invited to sign up to hear what the project’s farmers have learned from their trials exploring the potential of pulses and soil and root health.
A new event is setting out to drive the transition to a more sustainable, resilient and secure food system in the UK through reduced dependency on imported soya.
‘From Soya to Sustainability’will be held on January 22, 2025 at KingsGate Conference Centre, Peterborough. It will bring together farmers, processors, manufacturers, researchers, policymakers and industry leaders to explore innovative strategies for integrating beans and other pulses into livestock diets, reducing the need for imported soya.
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 with other roles including visiting Professor at the University of Winchester.
Photo credit: CIWF Richard Dunwoody
He was appointed UN ambassadorial ‘Champion’ for the 2021 Food Systems Summit in New York and co-lead of its Sustainable Livestock Solutions Cluster.
Other speakers will include experts leading the charge for reduced use of soya in the UK who will share the latest research and innovations in the production and use of peas and beans.
There will also be ample networking opportunities enabling delegates to connect with like-minded experts from across the supply chain.
Roger Vickers of PGRO and lead of the NCS Project which is coordinating the event said: “This event is a call to action for all in the agri-food supply chain to play their part in the move from soya to sustainability, which is urgently needed if we are to reduce our environmental impact.
“Growing more pulse crops in the UK and using them in livestock feed would help tackle our dependency on imported soya while also promoting agricultural practices that benefit farmers and the environment. There are multiple wins, but it is not an easy fix.
“We need urgent and concerted action across the supply chain if we are to make a difference. I encourage anyone working in the agri-food supply chain to attend and be part of a movement for change.”
