University to host national Stakeholder Showcase for groundbreaking nutrient recovery and slurry innovation project

Posted 20 August

A dedicated open day showcasing the progress and findings of an innovative slurry management project is to be held at Harper Adams University.

The University and project partners ElentecBio will welcome stakeholders from across agriculture, horticulture, environmental organisations, water management and government to the day, on Tuesday, September 22.

Bringing together farmers, growers, regulators, policy makers and industry leaders, the day will explore how emerging technologies can help unlock greater value from livestock manures while supporting more sustainable nutrient and water management.

The project, led in partnership with ElentecBio, has been investigating approaches to recovering and utilising nutrients from slurry, helping transform what is often viewed as a waste product into a valuable agricultural resource.

The open day will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear directly from the project team, view trial results and see the technology operating at Harper Adams University's Future Farm.

Visitors will also tour university glasshouse facilities where nutrient application trials have been conducted, providing insight into the potential benefits of recovered nutrients for crop production.

Demonstrating Innovation in Practice

The event forms an important milestone for the project as partners look to share lessons learned and engage potential future adopters of the technology.

Delegates will hear about the project's progress to date, explore practical applications across different farming and horticultural systems, and take part in discussions regarding future opportunities for implementation and commercial uptake.

The programme includes project presentations, guided site visits, networking opportunities and a stakeholder discussion session focused on future development and adoption pathways.

Bringing Together Key Stakeholders

Invitations have been extended to organisations representing agriculture, horticulture, environmental protection and water management, including representatives from:

• DEFRA
• Environment Agency
• Natural England
• Water companies
• Rivers Trusts
• Environmental NGOs
• Dairy producers
• Horticultural businesses
• Agricultural advisers and consultants
• Supermarkets/Processors

Dr Marie Kirby, Senior Lecturer at Harper Adams University and Principal Investigator on the project, said:"Slurry is one of agriculture's most underutilised resources. Through this project we've been exploring practical ways to capture greater value from nutrients that are already present within farming systems. This event is an opportunity to share what we've learned, showcase the technology in action and bring together the people who can help turn innovation into real-world impact."

Dr Jayne Brookman, CEO of ElentecBio, added: "The project has demonstrated the value of collaboration between industry and academia in developing practical solutions to some of agriculture's biggest environmental and economic challenges. We are excited to share our progress with stakeholders and discuss the opportunities this technology could create for farmers, growers and the wider agri-food sector."

The event will run from 10am on Tuesday, September 22 - sign up here.