Biomass Crops for integrated land management – Demonstration event

AFBI Hillsborough, Large Park, Hillsborough, NI, BT26 6DR.

28th September 2023

Come and join Biomass Connect and AFBI for an afternoon learning about biomass crop cultivation and how biomass crops can be integrated into existing land management systems, for maximum benefit.

The event will focus on research into approaches for effective utilisation of biomass crops, for reducing factors such as nutrient runoff and will explore their potential as an alternative energy source, which could be used on-farm to improve farm business efficiency.

All are welcome – please register to book a place. We look forward to seeing you there!

Programme

13:30   Convene, tea & coffee

14:00 Introduction and talks

• Biomass Connect – introduction and overview (Will Stiles/Mark Needham)
• Overview of AFBI research into willow species management uses (Chris Johnston, AFBI)
• Working with Biomass Crops (Callum Williams, AFBI)

15:00 Crop tour: field walk, including:

• Energy centre visit
• Biomass crop experiments (diffuse pollution management)
• Different biomass crop comparisons

The field “walk and talk” will be a fairly informal affair including commentary from the above speakers along with Mike Cooper from Miscanthus Nurseries who will be on hand to impart his 25 years’ worth of knowledge growing and marketing Miscanthus from his 2000 acres of farmland and a further 3000 acres he manages for other growers.

16:00 Q & A – Wrap up, final thoughts

16.30 Finish/networking