CropTec 2016 proved particularly timely this year, living up to its reputation as the knowledge exchange event for progressive arable farmers and their advisers.
Following the UK’s decision to leave the EU, the event provided the ideal opportunity for visitors and their suppliers to discuss and explore ways to reduce unit production costs through the adoption of new technology, up-to-date agronomy and best business practice.
Visitors to the event, which took place on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 November, at East of England Showground, Peterborough, were increasingly constrained by many factors outside their control, he said. These included global supply and demand, currency fluctuations, regulation, climate and especially now, politics.
More than 36 speakers took part in this year’s event and together with over 140 exhibitors and organisations like AHDB, NFU, Defra and the VI helped clarify some of the uncertainty and demonstrated how technical excellence could help improve growers’ competitive edge and profitability.
Most of the seminars were standing room only. The programme focused on four key technical areas affecting profitability – crop establishment, crop nutrition, crop protection and crop breeding, featuring some of the industry’s most acknowledged experts.
Beyond the seminars, exhibitor stands offered visitors the chance to explore a wide range of novel science and innovative technology in an informal atmosphere, creating the ideal forum for visitors, exhibitors and researchers to exchange ideas and experiences.
The knowledge hubs – short, sharp presentations delivering key take-away messages proved popular draws, none more so than the new blackgrass hub that offered the latest advice on aerial scanning, cultivations, cover cropping and chemistry to tackle the weed.
CropTec returns to the East of England Showground, Peterborough on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 November 2017.
