A SERIES of three webinars exploring the current policy landscape, market trends, and challenges within UK agriculture are being hosted by Farm491, part of the Royal Agricultural University.

The webinars will feature leading academics delving into their specialist areas to explain how agricultural practices have evolved, the potential innovations that can take place and the obstacles that farmers might encounter along the way.

Farm491’s centre and events manager, Verity Payne, said: “This series is intended to provide an oversight to those businesses who are thinking about launching, diversifying or growing into the agricultural and land management sector to help them better understand their business customers and discover where opportunities might lie, both now and in years to come.”

The series will commence on September 29 with a session on ‘Global and Local Opportunities for Higher Animal Welfare’ and will be delivered by Professor David Main, Professor of Production, Animal Health and Welfare at The RAU.

The second will be held on October 6, where Crop Production and Agronomy lecturer Adam Hinchcliffe will discuss ‘Policy, Challenges and Opportunities in Arable Farming’.

The series will culminate on October 20, when Professor Louise Manning, Professor of Agri-food and Supply Chain Production and director of Knowledge Exchange at the RAU will address ‘The Complexities of Championing Integrity in Food Supply Chains’.

Farm491 has supported 200 start-ups and has over 70 members, who are brought together in a unique 'incubation space and hub', dedicated to tech start-ups focused on agriculture, horticulture, food and environmental sustainability.

Find event details and tickets at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/rau-farm491-15772300634. The sessions are free to Farm491 members and cost £12 per session for non-members.