On Tuesday 30th May 2017, we will welcome climate change expert, Professor Pier Vellinga (pictured), as keynote speaker in our latest Agri-Food briefing series, titled ‘Climate Change and sea level rise, impacts and opportunities for agriculture in North Sea coastal areas’.

Held at the National Centre for Food Manufacturing (pictured), Holbeach, the event will feature Prof Vellinga as key note speaker who will deliver a presentation on adaptation and innovation with case studies, both local and global, amongst our University of Lincoln speakers at the event.

If you would like to find out more about this talk, or to book your place, please send an email to Emma Seamer: eseamer@lincoln.ac.uk

Agenda

-9am – Arrival and coffee

-9.30am – Welcome from Professor Simon Pearson, Director of the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT)

-9.40am – Introduction to Interreg project, Dr. Gary Bosworth, Deputy Head of the School of Geography, University of Lincoln

The University of Lincoln is a partner in a European project proposal, SALFAR, which will carry out research into opportunities for innovative agriculture to adapt to climate change and sea level rise. The University will be working with partners to develop more salt tolerant crops, create local food brands based around saline agricultural production and carry out economic assessments of the potential for growth in saline agriculture both locally and globally to mitigate against the threats of increased rates of sea flooding.

-9.55am – Update on RIF project

Dr. Iain Gould, Senior Lecturer in Agri-Food Technology, University of Lincoln

In preparation for the larger project, the University has funded a year-long study here in Lincolnshire which has seen economists in Lincoln International Business School carrying out modelling analysis to examine the potential economic costs of salinity-induced agricultural land-degradation and future losses of food production. Soil scientists and agricultural experts (LIAT) have also been exploring the opportunities and challenges for local farmers facing increased risk of salt-water inundation.

-10.10am – Overview of the Greater Lincolnshire Water Management Plan

Mr Martin Collison of Collison and Associates

Martin will share information regarding the importance of water management to enable growth in our area, and give an update on key priorities for water management as set out in the Greater Lincolnshire Water Management Plan.  He will also discuss the economic importance of the agri -food sector to the local economy and why protecting from farmland from flooding is essential to the sector’s future contribution to the economy.

-10.30am – Coffee Break

-11am – Prof. Edward Hanna FRMetS, Professor of Climate Science and Meteorology at the School of Geography, University of Lincoln

Professor Hanna will share some recent UK extreme weather events and discuss their possible causes and predictability.

-11.15am – Key Note, Professor Pier Vellinga

Climate Change and sea level rise, impacts and opportunities for agriculture in North Sea coastal areas

Professor Pier Vellinga delivers a presentation on adaptation and innovation with case studies, both local and global.

-12:00 – Q&A chaired by Professor Simon Pearson, Director of LIAT, University of Lincoln 

-12.20pm – Presentations and Q&A conclude, lunch will be available.

-1.15pm Event close