Arable Futures

Arable Scotland is Scotland’s leading event for knowledge exchange bringing together the key players in the arable sector. The event is facilitated by The James Hutton Institute in collaboration with supporting organisations including the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), SEFARI Gateway, and the Scottish Society for Crop Research (SSCR).

This free event is for anyone involved in the industry supply chain from growers right through to processors and to everyone interested in the sector, including those at early career stage.

Four interactive sessions will bring together people involved in arable supply chains, farming and ‘value addition’ to delve into the big questions:

What the future holds for the arable industry

Natural capital futures and benefit-risk sharing across the sector

What are the Future crops for climate resilience

Which Future skills will be needed in the arable sector

The first three sessions are geared towards the fourth session, with a final wrap up session to decide actions that can be taken – and assigned to interested parties in the room – to secure future sustainability and confidence. Pre-set overarching questions primed for the room, will be complemented by discussion points and questions submitted in advance and on the day.

The event aims to create an inclusive safe space for discussions about the future of the Scottish arable sector, reflecting the voices within and across generations. It will develop a shared understanding of what the future holds, challenge us to question how the sector responds, and identify actions that could be taken to create future resilience.

Event programme

8.30 am: Refreshments on arrival

9.30 am: Welcome by Professor Colin Campbell, Chief Executive, The James Hutton Institute

9.35 am: Session 1 – ‘What the future holds’for the arable industry

10.35 am: Refreshment break

11.05 am: Session 2 – ‘Natural capital futures’

12.05 pm: Lunch

1.30 pm: Session 3- ‘Future crops’ for climate resilience

2.30 pm: Refreshment break

3 pm: Session 4 – ‘Future skills’ for the arable sector

4 pm: Wrap up and summary

4.30 pm: Close