Crops and Engineering Workshop I
Tue, 26 Mar
|Harper Adams, Edgmond
This workshop will provide the opportunity to understand and explore options for growing novel high value crops on rewetted peat. The workshop will also focus on engineering solutions to farming on wet peat. During the workshop, talks, a carousel of demonstrations in the HAU soil hall & discussions


Time & Location
26 Mar 2024, 08:30 – 17:30
Harper Adams, Edgmond, Newport TF10 8ND, UK
About the event
This workshop will be an opportunity for those who are new to the concept of farming crops on   re-wetted lowland peat (Paludiculture) to learn more about the practicalities   and opportunities this may provide for growers.
The day will   feature inputs from industry experts leading this area of research, a practical   workshop and a tour of Harper Adams Paludiculture Innovation Project site   which is in the process of being re-wetted.
The event is   part of Harper Adams University (PEF funded) Paludiculture Innovation Project (PIP), of which more information can be found here: https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/news/209047/harper-adams-university-to-become-first-uk-centre-for-the-study-of-peat-farming
Agenda
8:30 Registration   and tea and coffee
9:30 Crop production on re-wetted peat.
Professor Jim Monaghan, Harper Adams University Professor of Crops.
10:00 Capabilities of drones for managing farming on rewetted peat.
Mr Aleks Koswalski, Project Manager of Drone RePeat (PEF)
10:30 Practicalities of water management across a lowland peatland landscape mosaic.
Dr Mike Longden (Lancashire Wildlife Trust & Liverpool John Moores)
11:00 Coffee
11:20 Transportation on peatlands: insight from the army.
Mr Dan Stirrat, Senior Mobility Engineer, Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land.
11:50 The role of autonomous vehicles in the farming of wet peat.
Mr Kit Franklin, Harper Adams University.
12:20 Lunch in the soil hall
12:20- 14:20 Soil Hall Equipment and Machinery Carousel
A carousel of demonstrations of engineering capabilities to include: Balfour Beatty, Aldert van Weeren (Wetland Products), Severn Partnership (Ground Penetrating Radar), technical input & demonstrations from Agri-EPI Centre, Drone RePeat, autonomous vehicles among others.
15:30 Roundtable discussions: engineering and crops knowledge gaps
16:00 Summary & concluding remarks
Dr Julia Casperd, Harper Adam University.
16:15 Tour of Harper Adams University Paludiculture Innovation Project site. Meet in the Dept. of Engineering car park to pick up minibuses.
Please bring wellies and appropriate outdoor clothing.
17:30 End of  day