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 | |
12:00 | NETWORKING BREAK |
13:15 | Conference Welcome ‘Science led Policy or Policy led Science’ |
13:20 | Recognising the Importance of Grasslands in the current and future ‘landscape’, and in the wider economy, Minette Batters |
13.50 | Discussion / Q&A |
14.20 | NETWORKING BREAK |
SOIL HEALTH | |
14.35 | Soil microbiome, Andy Neal (Rothamsted Research) |
14.55 | Soil health scorecard, Suzanne Higgins |
15.10 | Soil and nutrition management, Elizabeth Stockdale |
15.25 | Practical farm application, John Gilliland |
15.40 | Panel Discussion |
16.10 | NETWORKING BREAK |
CARBON FROM GRASSLAND | |
16.25 | 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) |
THURSDAY, 12th NOVEMBER 2026 | |
PRODUCTIVITY IN A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE | |
8.45 | Productivity in a sustainable future, Iain Donnison (aberystwyth University) |
9.05 | Managing grassland, David Patterson (Aberystwyth University) |
09.25 | Environment and ecology (uplands), Davy McCracken (SRUC) and Prysor Williams (Bangor University) |
09.45 | Panel Discussion, chaired by Christina Marley |
10.15 | NETWORKING BREAK |
FOOD SECURITY AND CLIMATE ADAPTION | |
10.40 | Adapting to climate change, Peter Falloon (Met Office) |
11.30 | Food security from a grassland perspective, Sophie Throup (Myton Food Group) |
11.45 | Panel discussion / Q&A chaired by Michael Lee (Harper Adams University) |
12.15 | Conference summary and close, Michael Lee (Harper University) |