Sustainable farming will be the focus of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society’s next on-farm technical event, Eco AgriTech, to be held on Wednesday, July 18, at Knock Farm, Huntly, courtesy of host farmers, Roger and Beth Polson.
The event will be open from 12noon when visitors will have the opportunity of walking round the 434ha organic farm at their leisure and visit the 10 information stations en route where experts from SRUC/SAC, James Hutton Institute, Forestry Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage, SEPA and Farming and Water Scotland will be on hand to discuss all aspects of land use and sustainable management.
“It will be an interesting and informative opportunity for all farmers to consider alternative farming and land management systems which may become increasingly relevant in our changing world,” said Mr Polson.
“Although Knock has been managed as a mixed organic unit since 2006, the event is not about the way we farm but rather we are providing a venue where others can convey their ideas and messages about ecologically based and sustainable alternatives to conventional ways of farming.”
Former NFU Scotland president, John Kinnaird, who is one of the Scottish Government’s “agricultural champions” will give a talk entitled “Change and Profitability” at around 1.30pm and again at 4.30pm and event chairman, John Gordon, Wellheads, Huntly, will chair a Question Time style panel discussion from 6.30pm.
The panel members will be SRUC principal and chief executive, Prof Wayne Powell, Scottish Natural Heritage policy adviser, Dr Maria de la Torre, Hames Hutton Institute head of ecological sciences, Dr Helaina Black, East Lothian former organic farmer, John Hamilton, and conventional farmer, Peter Chapman, Jun, South Redbog, Strichen.
Entry is £10 and the event qualifies farmers for two NRoSO points. Catering facilities will be provided throughout the day with a barbecue before the evening discussion.