Villa Road
Histon
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire CB24 9NZ
United Kingdom
Wednesday 2nd December
|
10:30 |
Arrival and refreshments |
|
|
10:45 |
Welcome and project overview |
Dr Lydia Smith, Niab |
|
11:00 |
Session 1 Herbal leys Learnings from the two 3-year herbal ley trials that we have been assessing in Cambridge and the Cotswolds. |
Ian Wilkinson, FarmED Paul Totterdell, Cotswold Seeds Jed Soleiman, Cotswold Seeds |
|
11:45 |
Session 2 Cover cropping – what have we learnt? We will be sharing the results of three sequential cover crop trials hosted across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Kent. |
Dr Nathan Morris, Niab Jasmine Toole, Niab Dr Lydia Smith, Niab |
|
12:30 |
Lunch and networking |
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|
13:30 |
Session 3 A conversation about biomass crops What have we learnt about miscanthus, willow and poplar? |
William Cracroft-Eley, Terravesta Kevin Lindegaard, Willow Solutions William MacAlpine, Forestry Commission Chris Ashman, Aberystwyth University |
|
14:30 |
Refreshment break |
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|
14:45 |
Session 4 Soil health and carbon foot-printing Learn about the carbon foot-printing process with project case studies which feature the different focus crops. |
Tim Dart, Farm Carbon Toolkit |
|
15:45 |
Day summary and closing round table |
Dr Lydia Smith and guest |
|
16:15 |
Day end |
|
Thursday 3rd December 2026
|
9:30 |
Arrival and refreshments |
|
|
9:45 |
Welcome and project overview. Recap of Day 1. |
Dr Lydia Smith, Niab |
|
10:00 |
Session 1 New hemp variety Learn about a new hemp variety that has been bred and how it compares to other available varieties in the field. |
Professor Ian Graham and Dr Madhura Bhat, University of York and Dr Lydia Smith, Niab |
|
10:45 |
Session 2 Fibre growers Q&A Hear from our fibre crop growers as they share their experiences of growing industrial hemp and flax. |
Ryan McCormack, Grimsthorpe Farm and growers |
|
11:30 |
Refreshment break |
|
|
11:45 |
Session 3 Bio-based materials Interactive session with industry member who are producing bio-based materials from crops such as hemp and flax. Show audience how they can use these alternative products. |
Biorenewables Development Centre, BioSolutions, Natural Building Systems and Bitrez |
|
12:30 |
Lunch |
|
|
13:30 |
Session 4 Environmental Performance Assessment Guide Tool This tool has been developed by BDC. This will be a workshop on how to use the tool. It is relevant to growers and stakeholders. |
Biorenewables Development Centre |
|
14:15 |
Session 5 Do high carbon capture crops capture high amounts of carbon? Enjoy a lively discussion around the findings of the project and what this means in the wider context of soil health. |
Farm Carbon Toolkit |
|
15:00 |
Closing summary of the day |
Dr Lydia Smith and guest |
|
15:30 |
Day end |
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