News
Webinar: Soil health and circular economy
13 Nov 2020
A sustainable future for agriculture
10am, Friday 13 November
As part of AgriTech Week 2020 NIAB hosted a virtual seminar 'Soil health and circular economy; A sustainable future for agriculture'.
British agriculture is under increasing pressure from wetter winters and hotter summers. Summer rainfall patterns are expected to shift, making extremes of drought and downfall increasingly likely. Research at NIAB is developing the tools British farming needs to face this adversity and to continue producing food in a sustainable manner. These talks outline the breadth of this research, from large-scale field-based agronomic field trials, to novel salad production using hydroponics, to collaboration with businesses working in the circular economy.
NIAB hosted an Agri-Tech Week event on baby leaf salad
12 Nov 2019
NIAB hosted an Agri-Tech Week event at its Park Farm Innovation Farm to discuss what would be needed to grow the crop 24/7 with minimal waste to maximise the potential of this crop.
NIAB is a partner in the EU Interreg 2Seas project, Hy4Dense, which is looking at new ways to grow baby leaf salad; especially rocket, spinach and lamb’s lettuce. Our consortium is designing a novel hydroponics system, optimised for these young ‘densely sown’ crops. We are considering all components of the growing system including the way that varieties respond to these novel conditions.
The Eastern Agri-Tech Innovation Hub welcomed Rt. Hon. Michael Gove MP for a visit to the Hub
24 May 2018
The visit commenced with an introduction of NIAB by Tina Barsby and the Chair of NIAB Board Jim Godfrey. Then the work of Hub was introduced by Lydia Smith and the importance of a circular economy. The visit also included Lucy Fraser MP, Mayor James Palmer, a representative member from our Steering Group Nick Allpress (Allpress Farms) and Martin Lutman from the Combined Authority.
The visitors also had a short tour, meeting some of the Hub businesses and the work of our EU project BioBoost concerned with higher valorisation of waste resources was promoted.
Festival of Plants
19 May 2018
A great day showcasing the work of NIAB and the Innovation Hub to the public at the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens, Festival of Plants Day.
We had a focus on Soil Health with mycorrhiza fungal spores to look at through the microscope, soil samples for Visual Soil Assessment with guides as well as different soil types on display. We also promoted the work of BioBoost, our new business at the Hub; AgriGrub with their soil conditioner Frash and Celbius with Wildlife Friendly Zlug; a slug barrier made from olive waste.
Mayor James Palmer and Cllr Charles Roberts visit and tour of the Eastern Agri-Tech Innovation Hub
14 Feb 2018
Innovation Hub hosts East Cambridgeshire District Councillors
01 Dec 2017
The councillors were given a presentation about the history of the Hub as well as its current work and future aims. Entomics, Aponic and Celbius also gave the Councillors a summary of their businesses during the Hub tour. Enterprise East Cambridgeshire interviewed and filmed Denise Elliott (Industry Liaison) and the Hub businesses; a video will be put onto their new website shortly. An article appeared in the Ely Standard.
This was great coverage for the Hub and we look forward to hosting the Councillors again soon!
Great attendance for Saving waste in horticulture: Optimising resources
10 Nov 2017
Thank you very much to all our attendees and speakers who helped make the Saving Waste in Horticulture: Optimising resources on Friday 10th November 2017 a great event.
Innovation Hub hosts the 3rd EU Interreg 2 Seas Mers Zeeen BioBoost partners meeting
09 Nov 2017
The Eastern Agri-Tech Innovation Hub have just hosted the 3rd EU Interreg 2 Seas Mers Zeeen BioBoost partners meeting at the Sophi Taylor Building, NIAB. NIAB are the lead UK partner for this EU triple helix project with partners in the Netherlands and Belgium, which is aiming to encourage the development of a bio-based , circular economy in horticulture. The partners are working together to identify green waste streams, new concepts and products that utilise plant resources in more sustainable, efficient, higher value and integrated ways (www.bioboosteurope.com).
Pleased to welcome Priti Patel for discussions about NIAB Innovation Farm and the new Innovation Hub
01 Mar 2017
Fenland Councillors Meeting
28 Feb 2017
A very interesting visit to Walpole Farm with Paul Walpole, discussing future uses for waste blackberries at the Innovation Hub
28 Feb 2017
Due to the Spotted wing Drosophila which has recently established itself across the UK as a pest problem for fruit farmers to deal with because the fly lays its eggs inside the developing fruit and not just in the rotting fruit. Management guidelines therefore requires that all residual fruit is picked to prevent/reduce the problem of infection and overwintering larvae. The result is a significant quantity of soft fruit waste which our BioBoost project at Innovation Hub has plans to recycle the waste.
Lucy Frazer QC, MP for South East Cambridgeshire, visited Innovation Hub on 10 February 2017 to meet the team and see the progress of projects at the Hub
10 Feb 2017
