 |
 |
|
|
News Releases An open forum for new crop discussions 29 April 2008 How much do we care about home-grown produce in the UK, what food crops will we be growing in years to come, what are the constraints to introduction of new crops and where will the solutions come from? Some of the key questions at the heart of a one-day conference being staged in London next month which seeks to raise the profile of new food crop opportunities and establish ways to maximise the sustainable production of quality food from Britain. Taking place at the Hilton Hotel, Kensington on June 18, ‘New Climate, New Crops?’ aims to bring together a wide range of experts to examine the roles of science, policy and the food chain in identifying opportunities for growing produce in Britain’s future climate. Organised by the Defra-funded Innovation Network, based at the University of Warwick, in partnership with the British Crop Production Council (BCPC), keynote speakers include Robert Watson, chief Scientific Adviser for Defra, Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers’ Union and Hugh Oliver Bellasis, chairman of Council, Royal Agricultural Society of England. The speakers will first inform delegates of key issues through a series of ‘perspective talks’ before discussions begin based around an Open Space* forum, where topics for discussion are put forward by delegates on the day. Other key questions such as ‘How will climate change affect global food production?’, ‘What is the vision for land use in the UK?’ and ‘What needs to be done in order to develop new crop markets?’ will be hotly debated. “There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about growing crops for biofuel markets but the subject of new food crops and new crop varieties is a bit of a grey area and one that we think is very important to focus on with this conference,” says Jason Pole, conference organiser and research Fellow at the University of Warwick. * Jason Pole can be contacted on email: jason.pole@warwick.ac.uk to put forward your title for an Open Space topic along with a brief explanation. If you are unable to attend on the day and wish to contribute to the discussions – you still can, says Mr Pole. Simply send an email with a title for an Open Space topic along with a brief explanation of the main issues. Key points from each discussion will be clearly summarised and used in post conference publications. Registration for the conference costs £50 (£58.75 including VAT) and includes admission to the Perspective Talks and Open Space forum, lunch and refreshments, and an electronic copy of the conference proceedings. To register, visit the BCPC’s conference website: www.BCPC.org/congress2008/WHRI/index.asp or telephone: 024 76575244.
|
|
For further information contact: |
 |
|
| © BCPC |