Art of Possible: The Future of Agriculture

The Art of Possible: The Future of Agriculture is being delivered by KTN, Glasgow City of Science & Innovation, Technology Scotland, Cultural Enterprise Office and Glasgow City Council, in partnership with VentureFest Scotland.

Date: Wednesday 5th June 2019

Time: 14:30 arrival for 15:00 start

Venue: The Royal Society of Edinburgh, 22-26 George St, Edinburgh EH2 2PQ

Ticket Cost: Free

Calling all Innovators who can help define the Future of Agriculture!

Currently nominated for Event of the Year (Business Women Scotland Awards); Art of Possible is back with a new series of inspirational events & workshops that bring together Scotland’s creatives, policy-makers and STEM professionals to consider civic uses for the regions’ world-leading emerging and enabling (E&E) technologies.

At this event, we will explore tech-enabled innovations that can help define the Future of Agriculture.

Agriculture is an important industry in Scotland. Scotland's farmers, crofters and growers produce output worth around £2.9billion a year, and are responsible for much of Scotland's £5 billion food and drinks exports. The industry faces challenges to improve productivity and sustainability and will require new technology solutions to drive the industry forward. This event will explore how emerging and enabling technologies can be applied to transform the future of agriculture.

The event will feature a group of ground-breaking, inspirational innovators and knowledge experts in Scotland working creatively and collaboratively (across business, academia, and government) to drive the diffusion of disruptive technologies in the agriculture sector.

Following the panel session, there will be an opportunity for networking (with wine and canapés), to enable discussions to continue and new contacts to be made.

Agenda (Subject to change)

14:30 - 15:00: Arrival and registration

15:00: Welcome, Dr David Telford, The Knowledge Transfer Network

15:05: Introduction to Art of Possible and VentureFest, Dr Susie Mitchell, Glasgow City of Science and Innovation

15:10: Meet the Panellists - panel discussion

15:40: Questions to the panellists

16:05: Discussion session

16:30: Networking with wine and canapés

18:00: Close

Meet the panellists

Dave Ross, Chief Executive Officer, Agricultural Engineering Precision Innovation Centre

The Agricultural Engineering Precision Innovation Centre (Agri-EPI Centre) is one of four Agri-Tech centres established by the UK government. Agri-EPI Centre focuses on the delivery of research, development, demonstration and training on precision agriculture and engineering for the livestock, arable, horticulture and aquaculture sectors.

Dave provides leadership and strategic direction to the development of the Centre in its emerging role, both nationally and internationally. He is a trained engineer, with 26 years’ experience of agri-technology in both the cropping and livestock sectors, encompassing a broad range of technology areas. He has been involved in the R&D of a number of novel and patented developments across the agricultural production sectors. Some of these have been fully commercialised and he has assisted with spin-out and new company formations.

Thomas Farrugia, CEO and Founder, Beta Bugs

Beta Bugs is an insect breeding company that creates high performance breeds of Black Soldier Fly which will double the productivity of the rapidly-growing ‘insects-as-protein’ sector. The protein-dense insects are used in livestock and aquaculture feed, reducing the need for environmentally damaging soymeal and fishmeal. Thomas is the Founder and CEO of the company, and is also a Royal Society of Edinburgh Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellow.

Dr Andreas Kranis, Head of Genomics at Aviagen and Principle Investigator, The Roslin Institute

Aviagen are a world leading poultry breeding company, that supply broiler breeding stock to more than 100 countries globally. As Head of Genomics, Dr Andreas Kranis leads on many cutting-edge R&D programmes that drive genetic improvement, utilising cutting-edge technologise such as genomics, bioinformatics and big-data approaches. Andreas also holds a position as Principle Investigator at The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, where he works in Quantitative Genetics and Genomics of Livestock.

Prof. Joyce Tait, Co-Director, Innogen Institute, University of Edinburgh

The Innogen Institute is a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh and the Open University that produces high quality research and supports the delivery of innovation that is profitable, safe and societally useful. Professor Joyce Tait has an an interdisciplinary background, covering natural and social sciences, and has specialised in user-focused approaches to complex issues in the contexts of innovation, risk governance and stakeholder engagement. Joyce is involved in research projects in a range of areas, including agricultural and health-related applications of life sciences, evaluation and application of interdisciplinary research, and sustainable development.

Other panellists to be announced shortly

Please note that places are limited. Please contact kyra.allen@ktn-uk.org with any queries.

Art of Possible is an official Feeder event of VentureFest, Scotland's annual festival of discovery and innovation.

Disclaimer

All best endeavours will be made to undertake the event as shown above. However, the event organisers reserve the right to alter or cancel, without prior notice, any of the arrangements, timetable or plans relating directly or indirectly to the event. The event organisers are not liable for any loss or inconvenience caused as a result of such alterations.