The Institution of Agricultural Engineers have announced that their annual conference will take place online on Wednesday 3 November 2021 from 10 am to 2.30pm and is entitled Future Fuels in Agriculture.

Conference speakers. Top row from left, Caroline Drummond, Nick Royal, Jarno Ratia. Underneath Alistair Walshaw, Jon Swain and Andy Newbold

Questions addressed on the day will include what will a fossil fuel free farm look like in 2030, how will methane tractors support the road to a carbon neutral farming cycle, what are the benefits and pitfalls of future fuels and what are the challenges of achieving Net Zero by 2040?   

IAgrE say the presentations will interest people working within agriculture and its associated industries, equipment and component manufacturers, dealers and service outlets, education, research and agri-tech organisations, and will give a taste of the technologies being explored and whether adoption is imminent or several years away.  
 
Opening presenter Caroline Drummond, Chief Executive of LEAF will discuss why now is the time to accelerate the role of renewable energy on the farm, building on the past, maximising the opportunities of the present and embracing the innovations and technologies of the future. 
 
Alastair Walshaw’s current role at CNH Industrial is ‘Open Innovation’. He will give an insight into the New Holland T6 Methane powered tractor and explain how it supports the road to a carbon neutral farming cycle. 
 
From Ricardo UK Ltd, the global strategic engineering and environmental consultancy that specialises in the transport, energy and scarce resources sectors, Nick Royal will talk about harvesting agricultural waste resources, refining and liquefying biomethane fuel from biogas mixes at small scale and supporting grid infrastructure with renewable energy backup. 
 
Jarno Ratia of AGCO Power will cover the potential future energy sources for agricultural machines and his talk will look at emissions legislation now and in the future plus the benefits and pitfalls of future fuels. 
 
Jon Swain of NFU Energy will explore the challenges of achieving Net Zero by 2040. 
 
The conference will wind up with a Q&A speaker panel discussion hosted by Andy Newbold of Farm Smart. 
 
The cost to non-members of the Institution is £30. Click here for details.