Event
CHCx3 Winter Conference
Wednesday 2nd December - Thursday 3rd December 2026
Sophi Taylor Building, Niab Park Farm, Villa Road, Cambridge, CB24 9NZ
Niab
Join us to discover the findings from the 4-year Centre for High Carbon Capture Cropping project. Hear from project partners, growers who have been involved with the trials and guest speakers as they discuss the outcomes and what they mean for reaching Net Zero.
You can book for one day or both using the links below. They will take you to the Niab website to book.
Agenda:
Wednesday 2nd December
10:30
Arrival and refreshments
Session 1
Herbal leys
Learnings from the two, 3-year herbal ley trials that we have been assessing in Cambridge and the Cotswolds.
Ian Wilkinson, FarmED
Paul Totterdell, Cotswold Seeds
Jed Soleiman, Cotswold Seeds
Session 2
Cover cropping – what have we learnt?
We will be sharing the results of three sequential cover crop trials hosted across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Kent.
Dr Nathan Morris, Niab
Jasmine Toole, Niab
Dr Lydia Smith, Niab
Session 3
A conversation about biomass crops - What have we learnt about miscanthus, willow and poplar?
William Cracroft-Eley, Terravesta
Kevin Lindegaard, Willow Solutions
William MacAlpine, Forestry Commission
Session 4
Soil health and carbon foot-printing
Learn about the carbon foot-printing process with project case studies which feature the different focus crops.
Tim Dart, Farm Carbon Toolkit
16:15
Day end
Thursday 3rd December 2026
9:30
Arrival and refreshments
Session 1
New hemp variety
Learn about a new hemp variety that has been bred and how it compares to other available varieties in the field.
Professor Ian Graham and Dr Madhura Bhat, University of York and Dr Lydia Smith, Niab
Session 2
Fibre growers Q&A
Hear from our fibre crop growers as they share their experiences of growing industrial hemp and flax.
Ryan McCormack, Grimsthorpe Farm and growers
Session 3
Bio-based materials
Interactive session with industry member who are producing bio-based materials from crops such as hemp and flax. Show audience how they can use these alternative products.
Biorenewables Development Centre, BioSolutions, Natural Building Systems and Bitrez
Session 4
Environmental Performance Assessment Guide Tool
This tool has been developed by BDC. This will be a workshop on how to use the tool. It is relevant to growers and stakeholders.
Biorenewables Development Centre
Session 5
Do high carbon capture crops capture high amounts of carbon?
Enjoy a lively discussion around the findings of the project and what this means in the wider context of soil health.
Farm Carbon Toolkit
15:30
Day end