Cereals plays host to a wealth of seminars this year, with opportunities to question political leaders, players in the environmental services arena and farmers going down the regenerative agriculture route.

The Mainstage kicks off with a session, 'Privately funded environment incentives', sponsored by Agreena, with presentations on ecosystem services that provide farmers with new income to deliver greater biodiversity, protect precious species or curb pollution.

Accurate and statistically robust soil carbon measurement is fundamental to the success of everyone who is accounting for or trading soil carbon, said Annie Leeson, CEO at AgriCarbon, who will present the methods to implement affordable, auditable, and statistically robust measurement strategies at scale.

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“We need to remove uncertainty in all stages of the process, from sampling strategy to sample collection, processing and analysis. Our mission is to provide confidence in soil carbon sequestration by providing a solid foundation of evidence from the field,” she argued.

Farmers also have an opportunity to quiz political and industry leaders, including Mark Spencer, Minister of State for Food, Farming and Fisheries, and NFU President, Minette Batters, on their thinking – from food security to trade deals, grant schemes to new technologies and everything in between.

Farming speakers will provide new insights and practical experience of the benefits of circular and regenerative farming methods. In the seminar on ‘Great soils, great crops’, again sponsored by Agreena, soil scientists will discuss their research after keynote speaker, LEAF farmer John Renner, explained how he has improved his low-grade land to such an extent that it is now part of a high-yielding arable rotation.

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“I tailor soil management and fertility to individual fields and rotations. Non-inversion tillage, added organic matter and crop selection, to enhance soil structure, are key,” he said.

In another session on publicly funded environmental incentives, Janet Hughes, programme director for the Future Farming and Countryside Programme, will provide an update and details of the Government schemes to encourage greater biodiversity, landscape and wildlife protection.

New technology and climate change will also be key topics, while a new feature for 2023, 'AgAnalyst Academy: Making precision farming pay', will explore best practice in precision farming with progressive farmers, advisers, and precision technologists.

The first session looks at ‘must-see machines to help you farm more precisely’, including N-Sensors, spray nozzles, protein monitors and variable seed rate drills. Speakers include: Clive Blacker, precision technologist at AgAnalyst; Peter Millenaar, founder and precision spray innovator at BBLeap; and Mark Tucker, business development and head of agronomy at Yara.

At the new Cereals Stories Stage, inspiring farming personalities tell their story about how they got into the industry and what they have contributed and continue to give back. Speakers include Cereals host farmer, Gregor Pierrepont, discussing his family connection to the Multiple System Atrophy Trust; Olly Harrison, a farm contractor with a strong social media presence; Erin McNaught, NFU student and Young Farmers ambassador, and more.

NAAC Land Drainage Hub

In its third year, the NAAC Land Drainage Hub is expected to again be a popular attraction.

Topics include ‘UK drainage – where are we now?’ And ‘land drainage and minimum tillage – making it work’.