By Shanzay Qamar
Arable Scotland 2024 held on 2nd July featured the theme “Arable Farming in a New Era” at the Balruddery Farm. The event and its engaging activities provided a comprehensive insight into the future of arable farming, addressing contemporary challenges and exploring innovative solutions.
The official welcome by David Webster, Chief Executive of LEAF UK, was both inspiring and thought-provoking. His address emphasized the importance of resilience and sustainability in arable farming, aligning with the overarching theme of the event. Following this, the first round of workshops were very interactive and covered a range of pertinent topics. Emma Willis’s workshop on “soil quality assessment” provided practical advice on improving soil health, while the session by Prof Fiona Burnett and Dr. Neal Evans on “Integrated management practices” was particularly beneficial, highlighting the practical impacts of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and its alignment with regenerative practices.
The Arable Conversation, chaired by Elizabeth Massie, focused on creating resilience in Scottish arable farming. This discussion was particularly engaging, as it brought together diverse perspectives from farmers, agronomists, and other stakeholders. The conversation delved into practical soil and crop management practices that can help mitigate the effects of extreme weather conditions, a topic of increasing relevance given the current climatic challenges. The seminars and conversations were busy, and the audience participated actively by showing a keen interest in the talks through their questions.
Prof Derek Stewart’s talk on the “Potential of novel and minor crops in Scotland” was enlightening, offering insights into new market opportunities and the infrastructure needed to support these crops. Whereas Dr. Kenneth Loades’ session on “Making soils resilient to extreme weather” was equally informative, emphasizing the importance of long-term management practices for soil health.
A unique and engaging aspect of Arable Scotland 2024 was the poster presentations by BARIToNE students. During his seminar Professor Robbie Waugh introduced the posters which showcased the cutting-edge research being undertaken across our consortium. We sought to highlight the innovative approaches we utilising to tackle current issues in arable farming. The posters covered a range of topics, from sustainable farming practices to advances in gene editing, providing a platform for the students to discuss their projects with diverse attendees. This interaction not only added to the significance of event but also provided valuable feedback to the students, fostering a collaborative environment for learning and innovation.
The second round of workshops continued to provide significant knowledge and practical skills. Sebastian Raubach’s demonstration of the GridScore app for phenotypic data collection was particularly interesting, showcasing software development for plant genetic resources. Followed by the afternoon Arable Conversation, “Exploring the markets in Natural Capital,” chaired by Clive Mitchell, was a deep dive into the valuation and measurement of natural capital in agriculture. This session underscored the importance of integrating natural capital into farming practices and discussed potential methods and rewards for farmers.
The day concluded with a tour of the Centre for Sustainable Cropping. This tour was a perfect capstone, offering a practical glimpse into sustainable cropping practices and the research underpinning these innovations.
Throughout the event, the plots, exhibits and working machinery demonstrations provided continuous engagement, allowing attendees to explore the latest in farming technology and practices. The diverse array of activities, combined with the expertise of the speakers and workshop leaders, made Arable Scotland 2024 a remarkable learning experience. It was an excellent opportunity to network, learn, and gain insights into the future of arable farming.