Farmers from across the north are being offered a unique opportunity to see behind the scenes at the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) at Sand Hutton near York next week.
Fera, which now includes what was CSL, is hosting a special "Wellies and White Coats" event organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Food and Farming Forum to give farmers an insight into some of its work.
The free event, on Thursday 26 November, will cover a range of topics, including the impacts of climate change on food production; protecting food producers from food fraud; and badgers and bovine TB. The impact of climate change on food production, GM co-existence research, increasing food production versus managing the environment and protecting the assets of soils and water will also be on the agenda.
Food and Farming Forum chair Steve Willis said: "This event is all about knowledge transfer between scientists and farmers and vice versa. At recent meetings when farmers and scientists from Fera have met there have been huge benefits in terms of increased understanding on both sides. Now we have an opportunity to extend that and to let farmers see the work underway at Fera in a number of fields."
Nicola Spence, Fera’s Chief Scientist, said "With the world’s population forecast to reach nine billion by 2050, coupled with the impact of climate change, agriculture faces some significant challenges, not least of which is increasing yields whilst at the same time reducing the impact on the environment. We are delighted to be able to host the ’White Coats and Wellies’ event to show farmers from across the region how Fera is using science to help find ways of addressing these and other important issues in agricultural sector."
The event, which begins at 10.30am, will offer tours of Fera, a series of seminars and a hot lunch.
Tickets are free but pre-registration is essential and anyone who wishes to attend can book their place by telephoning 01904 462710 or emailing conferences@fera.gsi.gov.uk. BASIS and NRoSO points are available for attendees.
Ends
Caption: Food and Farming Forum chair Steve Willis.
For further information please contact Elizabeth Hudson at the Food and Farming Forum for Yorkshire and the Humber on 07702 598108 or at elizabethh@yas.co.uk or Sara Lamper at Sara Lamper PR on 01423 701147 or at sara@saralamper.co.uk
