Harnessing power from the land is the hot topic at Reading University's Agricultural Club conference on the 11 February 2008.
Held in conjunction with HSBC banking, audiences will hear from key speakers discussing 'Renewable Sources of Energy from UK Agriculture', an extremely important subject due to the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation of 2010 and dwindling world supplies of fossil fuels.The three speakers, John Reynolds from North-East Bio-Fuels, Owen Yeatman and Mike Carver from Biomass Industrial Crops, will present from their individual perspectives from their very different roles within the industry.
John has occupied a range of positions including President of the Fertilizer Manufacturer's Association and his current positions include Director of Tees Valley Biofuels and Vice-Chairman of the Farmers Club in Whitehall.
Owen is a Nuffield Scholar and the first person to produce Biogas, down at his farm in Dorset, while Mike has been appointed as the Industrial Mentor to three Government funded research councils
As ever, the idea behind the club's annual conference is to present the issues that will affect the future of agriculture. With the quality of speakers and the vital issue to be discussed, the Madejski Theatre is expected to be busy on the night.
Professor Richard Ellis, Head of the Universities School of Agriculture, Policy and Development said: "This year's Agricultural Club Conference on the potential, but also the practicalities of UK agriculture's contribution to renewable energy production is timely: amidst the controversies surrounding biofuels and 'peak oil'.
"This meeting is an excellent opportunity for reasoned debate about all renewables in the context of UK farming systems and UK requirements for clean energy, employment, landscape and biodiversity."
The event will take place on 11 February at 19.30 in the Madejski Lecture Theatre, Agriculture Building, Earley Gate
Members of the public are welcome. Entrance is free and tickets are not required. For more information please contact: Laura Temple (Conference Secretary), Tel: 07749 795692 or email aau06lt@reading.ac.uk
