This Agri-Tech Week event will be a presentation by Dr Matthew Smith, Director of Business Development at Microsoft, will explore what AI is, how agriculture will get value from AI and how the technology will enable “farm to fork” transformation.

The event is hosted by Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT) Riseholme Campus.  LIAT has expertise in many areas but is particularly well known for its work in robotics.

Its scientists are integrating cutting-edge 3D imaging and automation into harvesting and weeding technologies, while colleagues are investigating the genetic code of food borne pathogens.

This Agri-Tech Week workshop discuss a number of agri-tech funding schemes and provides an opportunity to hear from some of those who have benefited from them.

Hosted by Rothamsted Research in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire and supported by the Green Triangle.

One of the funding opportunities to be discussed at the event is the SHAKE Climate Change programme. It is specifically designed to attract entrepreneurs or start-ups who have developed early stage science or tech-based ideas that can have a significant impact on climate change.

There have been several times over recent years where the gap between demand for water and the capacity to supply has become worryingly narrow.

In July 2019 the AHDB Water Resources Management Scientist, Nicola Dunn, said: “Following last year’s drought and a dry winter, we’ve been monitoring the water resource situation closely this season. Earlier in the year we warned that irrigation may be interrupted later in the season. While there has been some rainfall, water resources are still challenged particularly in the east and south east of the country."

Against this background, this Agri-Tech Week event, hosted by AHDB,  is looking at effective use of irrigation and best practice for soil and water management for farmers and growers in East Anglia

Agri-Tech Week event will include: Farming for the future with Vaderstad seed eye; GPS monitoring for livestock and crop nutrition without fertiliser. 

The event is co-hosted by the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA) and Easton and Otley College.

The RNAA is one of the oldest county associations, being founded in 1847, and it is very supportive of education to encourage careers in agriculture.

Easton and Otley College was established to meet the needs of the agricultural and land based industries and provides a range of courses for school leavers and others looking to return to education and training.