Tech and sustainability at forefront of farming conference

Monday 14 October 2019

The use of technology, genetic manipulation and recycling organic waste will be among the topics presented at the annual Jersey Farming Conference next month.

This year’s conference, entitled ‘Farming Changes’, will be held at La Mare Wine Estate on Thursday 7 November.

Organised by Farm Jersey, the 9th conference will include food system optimisation, the value of cover crops and how to engage more young minds in agriculture and horticulture.

Pictured: How technology can be better employed within farming is one of the topics that will be explored.

Speakers will include Professor Cristobal Uauy, Project Leader at the John Innes Centre, whose work has been recognised as the most outstanding PhD dissertation in Biological and Life Sciences in the US and Canada.

He will be joined by Professor John Crawford, a Science Director from Rothamsted Research, who is currently working on a pilot project with Digital Jersey to explore the use of technology and data science to optimise the whole food system through the creation of 'digital twins' of local farms.

Soil Scientist, Dr Paul Gibbs, will be looking at soil and crop fertility and the impacts of adding recycled waste materials back to the land, while Helier Smith of Jersey Water will be discussing the protection of clear water in the island.

“With the world changing at an increasing pace all industries need to ensure that they’re moving with the times, including farming," commented Deputy Lyndon Farnham, the Economic Development Minister.

"We need to play our part in protecting the world, through education and application of the latest technologies. With some fantastic speakers due to speak at the conference this year we hope there will be some interesting debate. Anyone who wishes to become more informed on these topics is welcome to come along and find out more.”