Date and time
Thu, 21 Mar 2024 08:30 - 16:15 GMT
Location
EX5 1DJ
Westpoint Arena Clyst Saint Mary EX5 1DJ
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About this event
- 7 hours 45 minutes
- Mobile eTicket
Register HERE
Commercialisation and adoption of AgriTech in the South West
Back for its second year is the Southwest Agri-Tech Showcase brings together the voices of local commercial farmers, innovative tech companies and leading Agricultural industry supporters.
If you’ve ever wondered why it’s called the Great South West, then this is your chance to find out more!
The South West is England’s largest and most rural region with rich, diverse natural resources.
In 2022, a fifth of England’s total farmed area (1.78 million hectares) was in the South West.
There was 1.8 million hectares of farmed land. 18% of this farmed land was cereals, 9% arable crops, 1% fruit and vegetables and 47% permanent grass.
The South West had 34% of cattle (1.7 million), 20% of sheep (3.0 billion), 12% of poultry (17.1 million) and 9% of pigs (0.4 million).
It has a strong and growing network of over 200 innovative companies, that are working hand in hand with farmers, industry leading academics and Research and Development institutions.
World-class technology supporting efficiencies and innovation is celebrated across the South West’s diverse network of dairy, livestock, aquaculture and food industries.
At this event you will not only get to hear from the farmers utilising some new and exciting technologies, but also meet and talk to those companies who are collaborating more widely to ensure that faming and agriculture remains one of the most resilient and financially sustainable industries in the region.
Take advantage of the ‘Market Place’ where teams from over 20 companies are happy to tell you more about how they are supporting Agriculture.
Including:- Innovate UK; Satellite Applications Catapult; Agri-Tech Centres; Pollinize CIC; FreeUp Ltd; 4R Group; Oxti-Tech Solutions; IVF Bioscience; Herd Vison; Shearwell; MyOxygen; Civity(BNG); Gale Breaker; Smart Bell; Symbiosis Soil Lab; Gloucester AgriTech Partnership; Invest Briston & Bath; Microsoft; Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
Market Place is fully booked. All Market Stalls reserved.
Free parking is available onsite.
Overview of the day
08:30 – 09:00 Registration
09:15 Welcome – Jo Rufus Chair of the SW AgriTech group
09:25 Keynote Address – Karl Tucker, Chair, Great South West Partnership. Karl is also Chair of Yeo Valley and the Heart of the Southwest Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)
09:55 – 11:00 - ‘Blockers and Solutions to the adoption of AgriTech’ - SAC ( Satellite Catapult Applications)
Maryia Urazavea – Business Development Innovation Lead from SAC , with over 15 years of experience spanning Earth Observations, Aerospace and Satellite technologies Maryia specializes in developing high-impact initiatives that bridge the gap between cutting-edge technologies and practical applications.
Charles Quick, Founder of CSEQ Technologies Ltd – ‘Making precision technology affordable for every farmer’, CSEQ Technologies Ltd was founded in 2022 to do just that, making hardware to work with AgOpenGPS.
Tom McNamarra, founder of FREEUP Ltd – developing sensor platforms to automate and streamline workflows in the scientific, agricultural and industrial sectors.
Panel session chaired Anthony Higson, Business Innovation Manager for SAC. Anthony also manages the Environmental Living Labs (ESLL) which focuses on water, soil and biodiversity underpinned by automation, connectivity & geospatial data.
11:00 – 11:30 Morning Break
11:30 – 12:30 'Livestock- benefiting from technology and innovation’.
Phil Bicknell, CEO of the Agri-Tech Centres - ‘Agri-Tech Centres: Our plans for accelerating innovation in agriculture’.
Phil ‘s previous experience includes leading the market intelligence team at the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board. Phil was also chief economist at the National Farmers’ Union, spearheading the evidence to support a range of lobbying activity. Phil’s other roles include specialising in agri-trade issues at the US Department of Agriculture.
James Wright – Country Manager UK; Breedr.(Farm management software & livestock trading, empowering farmers with the tools to produce environmentally and commercially sustainable meat). James is a former councillor and cabinet member for the environment at a local authority. He is the Southwest Chair of the Conservative Rural Forum and a governor of a South West College
Oliver Lee – Owner of ‘How Now Dairy’ South Hams
How Now Dairy is the 1st carbon negative dairy and milk delivery in the UK. Farming organic Ayrshire cattle on wildlife rich herbal leys. Oliver’s mantra is: ‘Look after the land and the land will look after your cows. Look after your cows and they will look after you’’
12:30 – 13:30 – Lunch Break
13:30 – 14:30 ‘Arable farming - Let’s talk efficiencies and sustainability’
Chair: Key Regional Specialist within the sector TBC
Harry Rabetts, Digital Services Specialist, Omnia Farming System, H L Hutchinsons Ltd. Realising the full value of digital farming technology, Omnia is a precision agronomy software tool.
Farmer TBC
Q&A Panel Session
14:30 – 15:45 ‘Sustainable farming working hand in hand with Biodiversity and technology’
Robert Morrison, Agri-Tech Dairy Specialist, Agri-EPI
Paul Morris, CEO Oxitech Solutions – An energy efficient industrial biocide using just water and low voltage electricity.
Rob Addicott from Stratton Farms, Stratton on the Fosse (Two neighbouring mixed farming operations as tenants of The Duchy of Cornwall )
Matthew Elmes, Co-Founder Pollenize CIC , technology working hand in hand to track and improve biodiversity.
Q&A Panel chaired by Robert Morrison
15:45 – Closing remarks and networking.
16:30 – Close & safe journey home.
This event is kindly being sponsored by Satellite Applications Catapult and Environmental Space Living Labs.
