Leading sustainable farming organisation LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming) is inviting farmers and industry experts to attend its upcoming flagship Integrated Farm Management (IFM) Field Event to explore the challenges, opportunities and threats to achieving more sustainable farming. Taking place on Thursday 16^th May and hosted by LEAF Demonstration Farm, Cambs Farms Growers Ltd in Cambridgeshire, the event entitled ‘The economics of more sustainable farming – the costs, the gains and the glory’ will bring together farmers, innovators and industry experts to explore the significant challenges facing the uptake of more sustainable agriculture. Among the themes being discussed are:

- Short term gains vs long term change: building benefits in the short term through better monitoring, measuring and management vs taking the long view and considering what are the priorities on the horizon that farmers need to be ready for?

- AgTech: Does the AgTech revolution and cross sector collaborations offer a win-win for farmers? Are claims being overstated or is technology a game changer for more sustainable and productive farming?

- Climate smart agriculture: What are the emerging climate resilient strategies and what they really mean for the farmer on the ground?

- Policy to implementation: A look at UK government policy and how Integrated Farm Management is feeding into key national and global sustainability objectives

Speaking about the event, Caroline Drummond, LEAF Chief Executive said: “Farm businesses are facing dramatic shake-ups in future support mechanisms, as well as changing public expectations about how land should be used and managed. The unpredictable and incentive driven climate, will require smart business strategies that offer greater resilience, consistency and cost benefits. We must work together to ensure we optimise the capabilities of our food supply chain now and in the future.”

Alice Midmer, Demonstration and Innovation Manager at LEAF, added: “Attendees at this year’s IFM Field Event can expect to hear from the best in the business about how they are streamlining their operations, using technology as part of their sustainable approach and investing in the long-term resilience of their farms. We will be drawing on the research and demonstration activities of the LEAF Network of Demonstration Farms and Innovation Centres throughout the day and seeing practices in action on farm at Cambs Farms Growers.

The LEAF IFM Field Event takes place on 16^th May 2019 from 9.30am to 3pm at Hainey Farm, Barway, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 5TZ.

To book your place, visit https://www.trybooking.com/uk/book/event?eid=6448&

Full press release click here.

LEAF event scopes out challenges and opportunities to achieving more sustainable farming