IAgrE have announced that their conference this year will follow a virtual format with a series of webinars, online via YouTube and Zooms, posted regularly on their website. The conference will cumulate in a virtual meeting on 4 November 2020 at which all the speakers will field questions from delegates.

The Institution say the conference will tackle the potentially conflicting requirements of lean principles and ‘just in time’ manufacturing and the importance of building resilient supply chains.

Speakers at this year's IAgrE conference

Marion King, communications officer at IAgrE said, "Today’s Covid environment has stretched supply chains to their limits and beyond in some cases and the conference aims to help delegates reflect on what has worked, what hasn’t and how organisations and businesses can adapt to flourish in this new landscape.

"The presentations given by speakers representing the world of food supply and distribution, alongside international agricultural machinery manufacture and the UK dealer supply chain, will give delegates structure and ideas that can be taken away and implanted in businesses either side of the supply chain to improve business efficiency and profitability for everyone."

The programme kicks off with IAgrE President Paul Hemingway introducing the event.

Other speakers are:

• Martin Hamer, Fendt national sales manager, will be talking about how Fendt have flexed to accommodate different working approaches. He will also consider how the changes have now embedded in the business and what this means moving forward,
• Richard Halsall, group sales manager for Ripon Farm Services looking at how the company manages inventory, deliveries and the interface between customers and company personnel.
• John Shropshire of G’s Fresh Produce, discussing how lean principles revolve around ensuring efficient delivery of services and products in the fresh produce business.
• Dr Mark Cooper, an independent safety engineer will inform delegates about how they can learn from other organisations in times of difficulty.
• Professor Simon Pearson of the Lincoln Institute of AgriFood Technology will talk about the work which LIAT are involved in and how they relate to food supply efficiency, resilience and change manager.

The conference is free to IAgrE members and a small charge plus a special introductory membership rate is on offer for non-members.