IAgrE Landwards 2009 Conference
23/02/09

A conference for all scientists, engineers and managers involved in using the land across the UK.

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The need to achieve more secure food supplies and to obtain more of the nation’s energy and raw material requirements from the land whilst maintaining biodiversity along with providing access for amenity presents a mounting challenge for both policy makers and land managers.  Conflicts are inevitable.  What factors should come into play when determining whether land should be used for food or fuel; production or wild life and amenity; how can surface water management be incorporated; where does forestry fit in?  Can the conflicts be mitigated; where is the balance; where are the gaps in our knowledge; how can engineers and scientists contribute by working with land managers?

These are the issues that will be addressed by the 2009  Landwards Conference.

The morning session will be chaired by Roger Lane‑Nott, CEO of the AEA, and will be pulled together in a discussion session.

The keynote paper will be given by Professor Allan Buckwell who will set the scene and consider the policy options relating to land use.  Currently Policy Director with the (England and Wales) Country and Land Business Association, Professor Buckwell is chair of the policy committee run by the European Landowners Association. 

Other speakers and topic areas will include:

• Professor Chris Pollock - with an extensive background in research - will highlight some of the key areas requiring further research.
  
• David Riddle -  Director of Land Use for the National Trust -  will set out how the Trust balances the conflicting demands of upholding heritage amenity and wild life interests whilst operating against economic criteria.

Poul Christensen will combine his experience as a farmer, Vice Chair of Natural England and non-Executive Director of Defra to chair a session concerned with individual production sectors.  This will include papers dealing with main stream agriculture and large scale horticulture both in the field and under glass. Speakers include:

• Paul Temple -  currently NFU Vice President -  will talk on the arable perspective from the producers point of view. As well as Chairing the COPA COGECA Cereals Group for European farming organisations, he is Vice Chairman of the Oilseeds & Protein Group and currently holds the position of Non-executive Director of Farmway - the largest Northern Co-operative.
  
  
• Dr Malcolm Crabtree, manager of the Leckford Estates (Waitrose Farms) with many diverse enterprises and forms of land use that are closely connected to the requirements of a high profile food retailer, will give these issues a real life context. 
  
  
• Dr Barry Gardiner -  Deputy Head of the Forest Management Division of Forest Research at the Forestry Commission -  will also outline how the needs for economic management can be matched to environmental and amenity considerations.
  
  
• Peter Redman, a past President of IAgrE and Technical Secretary to the Douglas Bomford Trust, will present the final paper at the conference. Using his considerable experience from working with ADAS and a wide range of organisations, he will consider the implications of the issues raised during the day and will identify opportunities for inputs from engineers, technologists and managers.

LANDWARDS 2009 will be held at the Royal Agricultural College - Cirencester on the 7th May 2009.

To keep up to date as the Conference develops, for on-line booking, or for further information, please visit the IAgrE website.

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