Agriculture’s role in driving (and/or mitigating) climate change has recently been under the (Dubai) spotlight: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67594303. Against this backdrop, UK farmers produced significantly less (6-18% according to the crop) food in 2023, with lower acreages and yields of the major cereal crops, while an unseasonably wet summer weather delayed harvests:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cereal-and-oilseed-rape-production/cereal-and-oilseed-production-in-the-united-kingdom-2023

Can researchers and businesses offer solutions to the challenges of declining yields and climate instability ?

15:00 Welcome and Introduction, Prof Ian Dodd (Lancaster Environment Centre)

15:05    The challenges of integrating biostimulants into agriculture

Dr Rob Kempster, Lead Applications Scientist, Croda Europe Ltd

15:30    Advances in soil health monitoring; why use TUdi’s decision support tool for soil biology monitoring

Dr Csilla Hudek, Researcher, Lancaster Environment Centre

15:55    COFFEE BREAK

16:15    Improving soil health to mitigate nutrient losses from the agricultural sector: EU LIFE WADER project

Dr Marta Cattin, Soil Health Specialist for the Environment Agency

16:35    Nutragy: a low cost soil fertiliser

Dr Ben Herbert (Stopford Projects Ltd) & Dr Vasileios Giannakopoulos (Lancaster Environment Centre)

16:55 Closing remarks & departure

For maps and directions to Lancaster University please visit: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/aboutus/maps-and-travel/

Parking is available (£2.20 for 2 hours) at Visitor Parking Zones I and H: https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sustainability/action/travel/parking/visitor-parking/