Research Festival 2022 Healthy Landscapes
  • Rolle Marquee, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus PL4 8AA and online via Zoom

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The UK Government’s Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) is intended to support the rural economy while achieving the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan, with a commitment to net zero emissions by 2050. Focusing on the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery schemes, ELMs will provide new incentives – and challenges – for farmers, growers and land managers across the nation.

The South West has a wealth of expertise in environmental management both on land and at sea. Farming is at the heart of the South West, with agriculture accounting for around 80% of its land use as a critical cornerstone to the region’s economy.

  • What examples of effective, sustainable land management initiatives are already taking place in the region? 
  • What direction, research and technical support is needed to protect our food security and ensure local farms are part of the climate solution for a healthy future?

This event welcomes you to hear from local agricultural and environmental leaders, including Sir Harry Studholme, former chairman of the UK Forestry Commission and local Devon farmer, on the steps needed to develop a culture of nature friendly and regenerative farming. This is framed against the backdrop of the Government’s ELMS direction and its predicted impacts, before narrowing in on the relevance to and influence on the South West region. 

Gain insight into the University’s cutting-edge research in the agriculture sector, recognised as the UK’s number 1 for research impact in the Research Excellence Framework 2021

The University of Plymouth is forging new pathways to foster collaborations, so that Earth Science researchers and monitoring experts work closely with farmers and land managers to ensure the best methods, technology and information are applied.

We invite you to contribute your professional expertise in an interactive workshop, focused on how challenges in these areas have been overcome and sharing knowledge between disciplines that could strengthen future initiatives.

Need-to-know
This event is part of the Sustainable Earth Forum, which opens the Research Festival 2022 on Friday 24 and Monday 27 June. It will be hybrid delivery, meaning you can attend in person or watch the talks streamed live online via Zoom from 09:50-11:45. Please note: unfortunately the workshop at 11:45 will not be available for online attendees.

This event will be of most interest to researchers across disciplines, including marine and earth sciences, psychology, social sciences, arts, business. Those who work in local authorities, land environment management, agriculture, and technology applied for environmental intelligence.

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Programme

09:30 | Arrival and networking 
09:50 | Welcome by Professor Will Blake, Director of the Sustainable Earth Institute and Professor Mick Fuller, Professor of Plant Physiology 

Session 1: 

10:00 | 'Land Management; past, present & future' by Sir Harry Studholme, former chairman of the UK Forestry Commission and local Devon farmer
10:30 | Research showcase of creative innovation between technology and environmental science at the University of Plymouth  
11:00 | Break
There will be stands in the venue showcasing projects and technology from the University and partners that you are welcome to browse during breaks.

Session 2: 

11:15 | How Regenerative Agriculture can help combat climate change with Harriet Bell, Regenerative Farming Lead at Riverford Organic Farmers 
11:30 | Soil Health by Tom Tolputt, Sustainability Consultant and Animal Nutritionist at South West Farm Consultants
11:45 | Workshop: ELMS Knowledge Exchange at the University of Plymouth
Recent reports indicate that the transition from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to ELMS is likely to cost the South West region over £866m by 2026. To combat this, developing the agri-tech sector for nature friendly farming is more critical than ever.  
Professor Will Blake provides an overview of the University of Plymouth’s current activity and proposed initiatives in this direction, inviting your input and experiences on what would benefit your industry’s needs when working with the research community towards impactful solutions. 
12:00 | Agri Living Lab: where space meets agriculture with Sonia Pietosi, Business Development Agriculture Lead, Satellite Applications Catapult Ltd.
12.15 | Q&A
12:20 | Summary and conclusion 
12:30 | A light lunch will be served
Sir Harry Studholme

Keynote speaker: Sir Harry Studholme

Former chair of the UK Forestry Commission
Sir Harry Studholme has owned and managed forests in South West England for over 20 years. He was a GB Forestry Commissioner since 2007 until appointed Interim Chair from January 2013 and then Chair in February 2014, departing the role in 2020.
He was Deputy Chairman of the Independent Panel on Forestry, which reported on the future of English forestry in July 2012. 
Sir Harry has previously chaired; the Phaunos Timber Fund; the South West Regional Development Agency; and the Finding Sanctuary project. He is an Engineering graduate of Cambridge University, a Chartered Accountant (FCA), a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) and accredited Commercial Mediator (CEDAR).

This event responds to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals

Marine Institute

Marine Institute 

The University’s Marine Institute is the first and largest such institute in the UK. 
We provide the external portal to our extensive pool of world-leading experts and state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to understand the relationship between the way we live, the seas that surround us and the development of sustainable policy solutions. 
We are integrating our multidisciplinary expertise in marine and maritime research, education and innovation to train new scientists, engineers, policy-makers, artists, technicians and business managers of the future. 
Sustainable Earth Institute hero

Sustainable Earth Institute 

The Sustainable Earth Institute is about promoting a new way of thinking about the future of our world. 
We bring researchers together with businesses, community groups and individuals to develop cutting-edge research and innovative approaches that build resilience to global challenges. 
We link diverse research areas across the University including science, engineering, arts, humanities, health and business. 
Research Festival 2022 visual ID - web header

Research Festival 2022

24 June – 1 July
The annual Research Festival returned to celebrate curiosity and collaboration, showcasing leading work across disciplines. The week invited fellow academics, industry, policymakers, students and the public to understand how we are responding to global challenges with a systems-thinking approach to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Evolving into an extended edition that now encompasses the popular Sustainable Earth conference, the Research Festival welcomed attendees to hear about cutting-edge research from leading experts and keynote speakers, learning how your research or business could achieve greater impact through co-creation and collaboration, locally and globally.

Event photography and video

Please be aware that some of the University of Plymouth's public events (both online and offline) may be attended by University staff, photographers and videographers, for capturing content to be used in University online and offline marketing and promotional materials, for example webpages, brochures or leaflets. If you, or a member of your group, do not wish to be photographed or recorded, please let a member of staff know.