Grasslands have a vital role in helping to address the key challenges of climate change whilst also supporting food security. They provide vital resources for grazing livestock and serve a crucial role as biodiversity reserves, and potentially acting as carbon sinks. Emerging science and technologies are providing valuable insights into soil, pasture, and animal dynamics, paving the way for improved management in grassland ecosystems.
This conference will address and discuss grasslands in the wider economy, environment and ecology, climate change and food security as well as the tools and technology available to support future sustainability and policy decisions.
Event Programme
| WEDNESDAY11th NOVEMBER 2026 | |
| 11:00 - 13:00 | Poster Viewing |
| 12:00 | NETWORKING LUNCH |
| 13:00 | Conference Welcome, Grasslands in the current and future landscapes | Paul Billings, Germinal |
| 13:10 | Session introduction | Elizabeth Magowan, AFBI |
| 13:20 | Keynote | Recognising the Importance of Grasslands in the current and future ‘landscape’, and in the wider economy | Minette Batters |
| 13.50 | Discussion / Q&A, chaired by Elizabeth Magowan, AFBI |
| 14.20 | REFRESHMENT (tea & coffee) BREAK |
| SOIL HEALTH | |
| 14:35 | Session introduction | Amanda Bennett, AHDB |
| 14.40 | Soil microbiome | Andy Neal, Centre for Dynamic Soils |
| 14.55 | Soil health scorecard | Suzanne Higgins, AFBI |
| 15.10 | Soil and nutrition management | Elizabeth Stockdale, NIAB |
| 15.25 | Practical farm application | John Gilliland, Brook Hall |
| 15.40 | Panel discussion, chaired by Amanda Bennett, AHDB |
| 16.10 | REFRESHMENT (tea & coffee) BREAK |
| CARBON FROM GRASSLAND | |
| 16:25 | Session introduction | Nigel Scollan, QUB |
| 16.30 | Role of grassland in net-zero carbon | Rachel Murphy, Teagasc |
| 16.50 | Tools, technology and precision grassland; modelling | Rachel Ramsay, SAC |
| 17.10 | Panel discussion, chaired by Nigel Scollan, QUB |
| CLOSING REMARKS | |
| 17:25 | Closing Remarks | Nigel Scollan, QUB |
| CONFERENCE DINNER | |
| 19:30 | Conference Dinner |
| THURSDAY, 12th NOVEMBER 2026 | |
| 08:00 - 08:45 | Poster Viewing and Refreshments (tea & coffee) |
| PRODUCTIVITY IN A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE | |
| 08:45 | Session introduction | Christina Marley, Aberystwyth University |
| 08.50 | Productivity in a sustainable future | Iain Donnison, Aberystwyth University |
| 09.05 | Managing grassland | David Patterson, AFBI |
| 09.25 | Environment and ecology (uplands) | Davy McCracken, SRUC and Prysor Williams, Bangor University |
| 09.45 | Panel Discussion, chaired by Christina Marley, Aberystwyth University |
| 10:15 - 10:55 | Poster Viewing and Refreshments (tea & coffee) |
| FOOD SECURITY AND CLIMATE ADAPTION | |
| 10:55 | Session introduction | Michael Lee, Harper Adams University |
| 11:00 | Adapting to climate change | Peter Falloon, Met Office |
| 11.45 | Food security from a grassland perspective | Sophie Throup, Myton Food Group |
| 12:30 | Panel discussion chaired by Michael Lee, Harper Adams University |
| CONFERENCE OVERVIEW | |
| 13:00 | Conference summary and close | Michael Lee, Harper Adams University |

