This year, up to 60 children from urban schools will be welcomed to Cereals for the first time, with the aim of inspiring future careers in farming, engineering, science and technology.
Natalie Noble at Agri-hub organised the experience, alongside NFU education, and the visit for the 14-15 year olds will include tours of the NIAB Soil Hole, Syngenta Sprays & Sprayers Arena and exhibitors like Rothamsted Research, Newcastle University and Harper Adams University.
The children are coming from schools in Nottingham, Loughborough, Derby and Leicester and have had limited prior exposure to agriculture and the potential career opportunities available. Chris Ingram, teacher at Lees Brook Academy in Derby, said: “This will be a great experience for the pupils and possibly open their minds to a future career in agriculture.”
Syra Mahmood, teacher at Nottingham Girls Academy, said the Dirt and Discovery Day will be an opportunity for the children to see agricultural technology in action: “This trip not only enhances the national curriculum but gives students from different backgrounds the opportunity to gain culture capital and knowledge. Girls are under-represented in STEM and so I hope this trip will drive interest in it and show how exciting and diverse the world of science is.”
An event for all
Innovation and advice is in abundance for all visitors at this year’s events, with 400 exhibitors and sponsors, 80 speakers, four stages and 144 new exhibitors. Seminars give opportunities for visitors to learn the latest information about reaching net zero and environmental services as well as gaining an insight from industry specialists, including NFU president Minette Batters and Defra minister Mark Spencer.
At the new Cereals Stories Stage, inspiring farming personalities will tell their stories about how they got into the industry and what they have contributed and continue to give back. Speakers include Cereals host farmer Gregor Pierrepont, discussing his family connection to the Multiple System Atrophy Trust, to which half of all ticket sales will be donated.
In the Agronomy Zone, the winter wheat and barley feature is back with a larger number of winter barleys, giving growers the opportunity to walk among them for side-by-side comparison. There are also new crop plots and trials, including those from James Hutton and the International Barley Hub, Amstel Agro, Bionature and Emerald Research.
Also new this year, the AgAnalyst Academy promotes best practice in precision farming by working closely with progressive farmers, their advisers and precision technologists, to accelerate the profitable adoption of precision agriculture.
Event organiser, Alli McEntyre, said visitors are in for a treat: “With so many exciting features on offer, growers will leave the event inspired, with lots of ideas to try out on their farms. And hopefully the school visit will inspire the next generation of farmers, scientists and engineers in this vibrant and diverse sector.”
Cereals 2023 takes place at Thoresby Estate in Nottinghamshire on June 13-14
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