CropTec seminar programme to focus on innovation, resilience and practical insights
8th January 2026
The countdown is on for CropTec, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on 14-15th January alongside LAMMA and the Low Carbon Agriculture show.
According to the show organiser, it’s shaping up to be an unmissable two days for forward-thinking farmers and agronomists.
At CropTec, visitors can discover advancements in crop innovation and technology, and connect with fellow farmers, agronomists and industry professionals from across the arable sector.
An extensive list of exhibitors and seminars will allow attendees to explore nitrogen-fixing biologicals, next-generation soil microbes, precision nutrition, seed-treatment biotech, crop production science, agronomic analysis, digital soil mapping and advanced on-farm analytics, alongside regenerative farming networks.
Seminar programme
From tank to target – making every glysophate spray count – 14th January 11.15am-12pm
Join this session for a practical look at how to get the best from every glyphosate application. This interactive session covers water quality, product compatibility, and best practice application techniques – from tank to target. Learn how to test your spray water and take home a free hardness digital test meter. Real-world experience, independent science, and industry know-how come together to help you make every glyphosate spray count this spring season.
Managing fixed costs and machinery policy – 14th January 12.15pm–1pm
A practical session exploring how farmers can build resilient, future-ready businesses through smarter machinery planning, cost control and financial strategy. Speakers include Matt Ryan, chief commercial officer at Oxbury Bank; Matt Redman, of the National Association of Agricultural Contractors; and Will Foyle, who is farm business consultant at Hutchinsons.
Farmer-led innovation – 14th January 2pm–2.45pm
At this session you can find out more about the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Fund, part of DEFRA’s Farming Innovation Programme delivered in partnership with Innovate UK.
ADOPT supports farmer-led, collaborative on-farm trials to generate, test and showcase innovative solutions to real-world farming challenges.
Hear first-hand about live projects where farmers and facilitators are turning ideas into practical innovations that make a difference on the ground, and how you can benefit from the ADOPT Support Hub which supports and engages farmers and project facilitators at every stage, from shaping ideas and applications through to supporting projects during delivery. It also leads communication, knowledge exchange, and post project sharing, helping practical on farm innovation reach and benefit the wider farming community.
Resilient rotations: Maximising the value from spring and break crops – 14th January 3pm–3.45pm
Many spring and break crops are often perceived to be more difficult to grow or less commercially viable on farm. Typically used after challenging autumns and to spread on-farm workload, they can also be a tactical choice used to provide agronomic benefits such as nutrient capture, improved soil health, reduced disease, weed and pest pressure, and better yields for following crops.
However, with the right agronomy expertise, quality seed and market access, they can open up additional revenue streams too.
In this panel session, experts from Frontier’s seed, strategy and grain trading teams will discuss the ways growers can build more resilience and profitability into their rotations using spring and break crops – with a particular focus on the commercial opportunities available for beans, spring barley and oilseed rape.
Soil health: Inspiring practices and future opportunities – 15th January 11.15pm–12pm
Soil health isn’t just beneath our feet – it’s the foundation of profitable, sustainable farming. This session will explore how we manage our soils better and how to unlock real gains for crops, farm business and the environment.
Grain markets and trends – 15th January 12.15pm-1pm
Grain prices can shift quickly. This session will bring together experts from across the supply chain to explore what’s driving UK and global markets, and what might be coming next. The aim is to give farmers and growers practical insights to support better business decisions and help protect margins.
New revenue, better margins, stronger seed offers – 15th January 1.15pm–1.45pm
Seed distributors are operating in a crowded, margin-pressured market. This session explores how SeedSpeed® helps seed companies strengthen their offer through better early establishment, improved root development, and more reliable performance in challenging conditions. We’ll discuss where the commercial value sits for distributors, how microbes enhance the seed proposition, and why early adopters stand to gain the most as biologicals become a standard expectation for growers.
Closing keynote address: The Precision Breeding Act 2023: Opportunities for gene-editing and the future of arable farming – 15th January 2pm–2.30pm
George Freeman MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for AgriTech, will deliver the closing keynote address and outline how the Precision Breeding Act paves the way for the adoption of gene-edited crops, and the opportunities this presents for enhancing productivity, resilience and sustainability across UK arable farming.
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