Climate volatility is posing increasing risks to crop yields, soil health, and input costs in the UK. That’s why this year’s Cereals Event will equip farmers, agronomists, and agri-tech professionals with the tools and knowledge to future-proof their operations.

From regenerative agriculture to drought-tolerant varieties and low-carbon rotations, this year’s programme is placing a strong focus on practical, science-backed approaches to help growers to not only mitigate their impact on the environment, but adapt their cropping systems to thrive in a changing climate.

With strategic planning, it’s possible to use rotations to both mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and develop crops capable of withstanding increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, says Premium Crops’ Nigel Padbury.

Linseed potential

Winter linseed emerges as a stand-out solution, requiring approximately 50% less nitrogen compared to traditional oilseed rape and offering significant environmental benefits, he explains.

“Winter linseed is not just an alternative crop – it’s a comprehensive solution to multiple agricultural challenges. With the oilseed rape acreage dramatically reduced due to cabbage stem flea beetle issues, farmers are seeking a robust break crop that delivers multiple benefits.”

The crop offers several advantages for rotation management, adds Mr Padbury. “It significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions while providing an excellent entry point for subsequent wheat crops. Its growth pattern closely mirrors winter oilseed rape, allowing farmers to maintain existing farm management strategies with minimal disruption.”

Financially, linseed is now competitive with traditional crops too, he notes. “With current market prices exceeding £600/t and yields around 2.1-2.2t/ha, it can deliver comparable gross margins to lower-yielding oilseed rape crops.”

Animal feed manufacturers are particularly excited about linseed, driven by its high omega-3 content, creating a robust market demand that adds additional economic incentive for farmers, says Mr Padbury.

Beyond economic considerations, linseed plays a crucial role in sustainable farming practices. “Its lower input requirements align perfectly with emerging ecosystem service contracts that reward farmers for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” he adds. “These contracts provide additional financial opportunities for forward-thinking agricultural businesses.

"Farmers are increasingly recognising that sustainability isn’t a compromise — it’s a competitive advantage. By embracing these innovative approaches, we can create a more resilient, productive agricultural sector that meets both environmental and economic challenges.”

Cutting-edge research

Continuing along the theme of innovative approaches, Rothamsted Research will also be on hand at this year’s event, showcasing the results of one of its long-term research projects looking into the huge potential for genetics to improve modern wheat varieties.

Professor Malcolm Hawkesford, who leads the Delivering Sustainable Wheat programme at Rothamsted, says: “The genetic diversity of the Watkins material represents a fantastic resource for our research in wheat improvement, targeting sustainability and food security, and is being exploited throughout the wheat programme at Rothamsted.

“We contributed expertise in advanced high throughput field and grain phenotyping to characterise Watkins lines, and derived germplasm using multi-year large scale field trials, which was then aligned with the genomic data.”

The study has revealed that more than 60% of the genetic diversity in historic wheat varieties has gone unused in modern agriculture, presenting a major opportunity to enhance global food security in the face of climate change.

By unlocking this genetic diversity from the A.E. Watkins Landrace Collection, researchers have identified traits like nitrogen use efficiency, pest resistance, and resilience to disease— all vital as farmers face increasing challenges from climate change.

The integration of this untapped diversity into modern wheat breeding not only promises higher yields and reduced environmental impact, but also supports more sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture – a key step toward building a robust food system for the future, says Professor Hawkesford.

Don’t skip on drainage

Of course, what you sow is only as good as the soil you grow it in – with structure and drainage key components for success. As such, the NAAC Drainage Hub feature will return to this year’s Cereals Event, with advisers on hand to answer questions on why drainage is so important, the benefits to both yield and environmental factors, as well as practical queries on how to get started and the costs involved.

“Good land drainage forms the building blocks of soil management and cultivations, improving soil structure and allowing water to be managed to avoid surface run-off, soil erosion, waterlogging and potential compaction,” says NAAC CEO Jill Hewitt. “We are increasingly facing rainfall in extreme amounts and water management is critical to ensure that land can hold water like a sponge, while negating run-off.

“As we try and the manage extremes of climate, it is increasingly vital to make sure our land is professionally drained to provide good soil structure, improved access to land with an extended window of trafficability, reduced flooding potential and increased yields.”

This will be complemented by the visitor-favourite NIAB Soil Hole, with planned topical exhibits including advice on tailoring wheat and barley fungicide strategies and a deep dive into under-utilised novel crops including herbal ley mixtures, quinoa, triticale, and hybrid barley, as well as the role these could play in resilient farming.

NIAB CEO, Professor Mario Caccamo, says: “The Cereals Event is our annual opportunity to share the breadth and depth of our research work and expertise with growers and agronomists. We will be demonstrating how this can be put into practice on farm and the economic and agronomic benefits of their use.

“This includes everything from variety advice to the latest disease, weed and pest management options, via crop nutrition, soil management and a look at alternative crops, as well as our regenerative agriculture exhibit at the Soil Hole,” he adds.

“We will also give visitors a snapshot of how we translate fundamental scientific discoveries into practical farming innovations which can boost productivity while addressing climate and biodiversity challenges.”

Building industry resilience

With over 400 exhibitors and more than 20,000 attendees expected, Cereals 2025 will serve as a catalyst for collaboration across farming, research, government, and industry, says event director, Alli McEntyre.

“UK agriculture is on the frontline of climate change. Cereals 2025 aims to empower farmers with practical solutions – whether that’s smarter crop choices, sustainable rotations, or agri-tech innovation. Our industry is resilient, and this year’s event reflects that spirit of adaptation and leadership,” she adds.

“As the climate challenge grows, so does the urgency – and opportunity – to transform cropping for a sustainable future.”

• The Cereals Event takes place on 11-12 June, 2025, at Heath Farm, Leadenham, Lincolnshire, LN5 0QE. For more information and to book tickets visit www.cerealsevent.co.uk.