Farming the future: Getting the best from available water resources

With limited new water available, the focus is on how to make better use of the water we already have

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Water for agriculture is under more pressure than ever — but it’s not all gloom and doom. With limited new water available, there are many innovative ways to make better use of what we already have.

We explore technical options: on-farm storage, smarter water resource management, rainwater harvesting, precision irrigation, and managed aquifer recharge.

Hear how management approaches can secure and share water resources by forming Water Abstractor Groups and connecting abstractors with Regional Water Resource Groups to ensure agriculture is included in water resources planning, thereby supporting integrated water resources planning.

At the policy level, the new government's White Paper on water resources is expected to follow the independent Cunliffe Water Commission’s recommendations, signalling renewed attention to the sector.

This conference brings together farmers, researchers, and water managers to share knowledge, showcase innovation, and explore practical ways to build resilience, reduce waste, and secure reliable water for the future.

Speakers

Guest speaker: Jyoti Baneerjee North Star Transition: Exploring the Fens Transition Lab: Jyoti is passionate about the need for a 'systems' approach to regenerating the Fens not only to secure water for agriculture but also to encourage investment in locally owned plans for climate-resilient farming, nature recovery, and regional prosperity.

Bob Hillier The Growing Voice: After the Third Drought in Eight Years: What Next for Agricultural Water Resources?

Mima Boardman: Environment Agency: Latest developments following the Cunliffe Water Commission’s recommendations and the government White Paper on water resources,
progress on Environmental Destination and Local Resource Options supporting Water Abstractor Groups.

Sarah Faulkner Faulkner & Mayne Sustainable Agriculture Ltd. Sarah is leading the development of Water Abstraction Groups in Shropshire and beyond.

Georgia Sakellariou WSP: explores a governance framework to integrate agricultural water needs into regional water resources planning: connecting Water Abstractor Groups with Regional Water Groups.

Andre Monblanch and Jerry Knox Cranfield University on modelling opportunities for smart water resources management in the River Strine catchment, Shropshire.

Rob Soley WSP on groundwater options and future development for food security. Rob writes: This is a good time to remind ourselves that 'Groundwater is Great!' as a drought resilient source of water - both for public and agricultural supplies, and also to keep flows going in rivers, and wetlands wet!

Teresa Meadows WRE on the new ( £300K) Smart Farming Initiative that benefits irrigating farmers (Funded by the Environment Agency)

James Brown Polybell Estate: Offers a farmer's perspective on water for agriculture and his plans to secure water resources. James' flagship project is a floating solar farm on an irrigation reservoir, designed to generate electricity to power his packing facility, cold stores, and farm irrigation.