The BCPC Congress 2019 to tackle the challenges of a “Green Brexit”

The BCPC Congress in Brighton, 19-20 November 2019, provides a unique opportunity to focus on the challenge of reconciling increased food production with environmental improvement.

This year’s event, entitled “Understanding the demands and opportunities of a “Green Brexit” – how do we deliver food production alongside environmental enhancement?” will raise to the surface the science, technology and policy issues resulting from the UK Government’s strategy for Agriculture, in which farmers will only be supported to deliver biodiversity, cultural landscapes, high quality water, air and soil.

Day One will start with a plenary session, led by Julie Girling (past MEP) reflecting on her 10 years’ experience as MEP for South West of England and her service – as one of the few MEPs supportive of commercial farming – on the EU Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and Agriculture Committees.

Following this will be presentations on developing sustainable plant health solutions and plant genetic technologies, with speakers including: Robert Shearsby, AIC; Guy Smith, NFU and Dr Tina Barsby, OBE, NIAB. In the afternoon session, two streams cover Regulatory Affairs and Science-based Agriculture; this will include a discussion forum involving Plenary presenters, chaired by Jim Orson, BCPC. The forum will allow delegates and speakers to share ideas on how science and technology can support growers in providing profitable and environmentally sustainable food production in the future.

The second day begins with a look at the global impact of food production, input management and delivery of Integrated Pest Management, with speakers including: Professor Rhys Green, University of Cambridge; Nick Poole, Foundation for Arable Research (Australia) and Mark Grantley-Smith, AHDB.

There will also be a particular focus on Precision Agriculture. A presentation on the status and exciting options for technologies by Alun James from Sagentia will be followed by this year’s interactive CRD workshop – “Regulating new agricultural technologies”. Delegates will investigate the regulatory opportunities and challenges arising from developments such as:

• robotics and machine-learning interfaces;
• treatments informed in real-time by remote sensing, diagnostics, best IPM practice and resistance management guidelines;
• application-specific formulations and delivery of pesticide spot-treatments.

The key aim is to get early inputs from stakeholders so that UK regulatory systems are developed in a way that maximises these emerging technology opportunities and their benefits.

The BCPC Congress 2019, is organised in association with TSGE Forum. Details of the programme, booked speakers and how to register can be found at www.bcpccongress.org.