Cranfield University

The Agricultural Universities Council (AUC-UK) is a collaboration of the UK universities with agricultural schools or departments. AUC-UK works together to coordinate our teaching and research, to make the biggest contribution we can to a resilient and sustainable future for agriculture, land management and food systems.

Nitrogen Efficient Plants for Climate Smart Arable Cropping Systems (NCS) is a four-year £5.9M ambitious research programme involving 200 UK farms and 18 partners. The project is funded by the Defra Farming Innovation Programme, delivered by Innovate UK. The consortium of UK companies, research institutes and farmer networks, led by PGRO, aims to bring about a reduction of 1.5Mt CO₂e per annum or 54% of the maximum potential for UK Agriculture. This will be achieved by increasing pulse and legume cropping in arable rotations to 20% across the UK (currently 5%). In addition, 50% of imported soya meal used in livestock rations will be replaced with home-grown feeds.  Both of these ambitious aims will be steered by science and proven by real farm enterprises, with significant benefits for both crop and livestock productivity, including cost savings of over £1bn/yr.

Farmers taking part in and getting paid for on-farm trials as part of the NCS Project.

Food, farming and land use need to undergo rapid and sustained change if the world is to address climate, biodiversity and health crises. This transformation requires changes in policy, yet will also rely on the actions of farmers and land managers on the ground. Their knowledge, skills and motivations, and those of their advisors, are crucial to success. This retreat provided an opportunity for educators who lead agriculture degree courses to share resources and inject fresh content into their courses. This retreat was funded by the Aurora Trust and The Mark Leonard Trust.

A transdisciplinary hub looking to provide to bridge the gap between science and policy to achieve Net Zero

Agri-Tech Week features a mix of in-person and virtual events that are designed to showcase exciting developments in agri-tech. It is coordinated by Agri-TechE working closely with partners across the innovation ecosystem and aims to provide opportunities to attract new customers and partners and to broker collaborations and international connections.

Follow the regen ag journey and learn how current research and trials are leading through to practical application and agronomy in this free webinar from CHAP.

Join partners Crop Health and Protection (CHAP) and Cranfield University as they celebrate Agri-TechE’s Agri-Tech Week and discuss what it takes to scale up agricultural innovation.

Academic paper in Sociologica Ruralis - Journal of the European Society of Rural Sociology in December 2022, by Faye Shortland, Jilly Hall, Paul Hurley, Ruth Little, Caroline Nye, Matt Lobley and David Christian Rose.

Hear from up to 7 authors of articles from Ireland, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA. Part of #MindYourHead week organised by The Farm Safety Foundation, Stephanie Berkeley.  

Though peas and beans have long been a trusted part of cropping rotations, it is perhaps only recently that the scope and value of their potential is being realised.

Farmers working with scientists to achieve the best from pulse crops and reduce their carbon emissions.

The trial will evaluate the long-term effects of pulses in an arable rotation, particularly the effect on available N to following crops. Objectives are: To evaluate the effects of winter beans, winter bean/ winter wheat intercrop and spring beans on soil nitrogen supply annually over 5 years. To evaluate the effects of species and species mixtures on GHG emissions. To evaluate impacts on soil structure and health resulting from cropping differences.

Written for farmers and advisors this book will help you assess the potential business benefits of agroforestry for your farm or client and to understand the possible benefits to the wider environment.

Rainwater harvesting is the on-site collection and storage of rainfall from impermeable surfaces and storage for later use.

Today we’re going to be talking with Lucy Cottingham, Agrii UK digital agronomy development manager, Steve Portas agronomist and Northern technical advisor and Josh Murphy, RHIZA product manager.  Agriculture is a very significant emitter of CO2 and today we are going to be talking about an innovative project called Nitrogen Climate Smart, which aims to bring about a reduction of 1.5mt of CO2 emissions per annum. The aim is to increase pulse and legume crops in arable cropping to 20%, the benefits of which to both arable and livestock enterprises could lead to cost savings over £1m per year. Let’s learn more about this innovative project and what it could mean for your farm business.

  Whole-farm spatial appraisals are rare and often without yield data validation.

Join us as we take a deep dive into the world beneath our feet, from the micro to the macro biology of soils. 

This landmark conference (January 22, 2025) will explore innovative strategies to increase pulse production and use in livestock diets. Register HERE