Innovation, sustainability and collaboration: Keys to success
Looking ahead and forward planning have long been key elements to farmers’ success – and bringing innovation and collaboration into the mix makes for a powerful combination. Producers have a fantastic opportunity to make the most of both at this year’s British Pig & Poultry Fair, helping them to ensure a sustainable and low carbon future for their businesses.
Profiling exciting new technologies and advice on topics like disease management and alternative proteins, the Fair is focusing on the key themes of, innovation, collaboration and sustainability. “Ultimately, it is the job of everyone in the supply chain to work together to reduce the industry’s carbon impact, and new thinking and technology provide some of the answers here,” says Fair organiser Alice Bell.
One example is the launch of a new digital product from Livetec Systems, which will revolutionise biosecurity control and help producers to contingency plan for any emergency.
“Our Contingency Plans document everything that farmers need to do in the event of an emergency – from flooding to a notifiable disease outbreak,” says Julian Sparrey, Technical Director at Livetec Systems. “This is critical when farm businesses are under pressure to respond quickly, as it details everything that those coming on to the farm will need to know, as well as informing the farmer of how these next steps will play out.”
Egg producer James Baxter, will join Livetec on stage to speak about how a robust contingency plan saved him £45,000 in compensation alone, by saving time – and therefore mortality – before depopulation could start following an avian influenza outbreak. “What we really want to highlight is the importance of being prepared so you can react quickly to protect your business,” says Sparrey.
Another Innovation Theatre session will explore the circular economy from the perspective of animal bedding. The 2050 Group is creating a new highly absorbent straw crumb which will be provided free, on long term contracts to farmers, where the manure is made available to be processed into biomethane, Bio-CO2 and biobased fertiliser.
“This biobased fertiliser can be used to displace predominantly imported fossil fuel fertilisers, to grow the next cereal crops and their resultant straws, which begins the process again,” says CEO James Dornan. “It keeps repeating each year in perfect harmony with nature, improving biodiversity and the management of manures (now converted to a commercial grade fertiliser) to land; especially from West to East, where there is massive discord between livestock and crop production.”
In addition, there will be a forum on insect farming, with Beta Bugs and Flybox talking about their combined solution which takes complexity and cost out of insect farming, by supplying eggs and larvae in containerised systems. “Demand for insect protein as alternatives to existing feed ingredients is increasing, making insect farming a mainstream opportunity,” says Dr Thomas Farrugia, CEO at Beta Bugs.
Visitors to the Fair, will also be able to hear from expert speakers in the specialist Poultry Theatre. The headline sessions will be the popular Egg Outlook and Poultry Meat Outlook, which will see speakers from throughout the supply chain consider the challenges and opportunities ahead. Other forums include a session with Defra’s Animal Health and Welfare Partnership on upcoming grants for producers to invest in new equipment and infrastructure. There will also be forums discussing assurance schemes, the next generation and supply chair fairness.
Fair partner ABN will be looking at how reduced carbon emissions can lead to greater efficiencies and profitability. Precision feeding and finding sustainable soya replacements will be a key part of this – and lifecycle feed analysis will enable farmers to determine their feed carbon footprint, says Danny Johnson at ABN. “This enables them to benchmark where they are currently, before working together to explore alternatives to reduce their carbon footprint and improve their bottom line.”
The 2024 Fair will be occupying over 18,500 square metres of event space at the NEC allowing visitors to browse the very latest new products from over 340 exhibitors. The British Pig & Poultry Fair takes place on 15-16 May at the NEC in Birmingham. To find out more and register for your FREE ticket visit www.pigandpoultry.org.uk