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Sponsors

Germinal
Stapledon Memorial Trust

Future Grasslands 2026

11, Nov 2026 – 12, Nov 2026 (All day event)

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)