CropTec 2024: Collaboration with Women in Food and Farming

MDS trainees Tanya Peters, Jess Clark and Jamilla Mohammed attended the innovation and knowledge exchange event, CropTec, to share their experiences of breaking through in the agriculture industry. In this post, they share their reflections from the event.

The future for UK farmers

The day kicked off with an engaging panel consisting of award-winning farmers from both mixed and arable farms. They shared valuable insights, highlighting their successes, lessons learned, and innovative approaches they have implemented to enhance productivity and boost yields.

As the afternoon unfolded, the discussion shifted to the highly relevant and at times tense topic of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). The SFI scheme, which rewards farmers in England for adopting environmentally beneficial practices, was at the forefront of the conversation, especially following recent protests from farmers regarding the new government’s budget. This issue of funding was top of mind for many in the audience.

Presentations included an overview from DEFRA on current funding opportunities and the future of farming, an analysis from AHDB on the impact of the SFI on farm businesses, and insights from Ben Taylor-Davies, also known as ‘Regen Ben,’ who has successfully integrated the SFI into the business decisions on his farm in Ross-on-Wye.

Agri-tech is the future of farming

The horizon of agriculture is looking promising and robotic. Agri-tech innovations are paving the way for more efficient and sustainable farming. Harper Adams University, University of Warwick and Professor Richard Napier are leading the charge, with exciting developments in robotics that automate labour-intensive tasks- taking the “misery” out of farming.

“There are some truly groundbreaking innovations being developed. At the event, we saw an autonomous, AI-powered weed control robot that uses precision application to reduce herbicide use, as well as a robotic trailer capable of moving heavy materials through AI programming. These advancements are designed to improve efficiency and lighten the workload for farmers.” – Tanya Peters

“None of us come from an agricultural background”

The under 30s women in food panel bought a fruitful discussion about what inspired Jamilla, Tanya and Jess to pursue a career in the industry. The trainees shared their positive experience of starting in their secondments and exciting developments they are seeing across the industry. Read snippets from their panel discussion below:

What inspired you to pursue a career in the industry?

“Living in the city my whole life, I never was conscious or aware of where my food was coming from. Until I went on an expedition to Fiji and lived in a village for 6 weeks and I know it seems naïve, but I was amazed by how we would eat cassava in the evening, that we just picked in the morning.”- Jamilla Mohammed

What advice would you give to young women starting out in the industry?

“One piece of advice I’d offer to anyone, regardless of where they are in their career, is this: never underestimate the power of change. MDS has shown me that the best lessons are learnt when you step outside of your comfort zone. That feeling of discomfort, however, doesn’t mean your voice lacks impact. In fact, embracing new perspectives will bring an invaluable fresh insight. Diversity of thought is essential for tackling today’s challenges and fostering more productive, high-performing teams.”- Jess Clark

What is your main takeaway from the event?

“This event truly highlighted the power of collaboration, passion for innovation, and the strong sense of community within the farming industry. Industry professionals, farmers, and growers came together, sharing their knowledge and experiences to support one another in tackling current challenges. This collective approach, as well as their determination, is ultimately what is driving the future of farming.” – Tanya Peters

Thank you to Tanya, Jess and Jamilla for sharing their experiences and inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders.