Innovative technologies and nature-friendly practices came together at Rase’s Farm of the Future event, sparking new ideas on how the industry might tackle its growing challenges.
Delivered by Innovation for Agriculture at the University of Lincoln’s mixed farm at Riseholme, the event highlighted the importance of blending productive farming with environmental stewardship within a landscape approach. The message was clear: the future of farming depends on resilience, sustainability, and efficiency – all while meeting societal needs.
From robots and AI to carbon capture, remote monitoring, and natural flood management, the vision showcased was one of a forward-thinking, multifaceted agricultural system. Professor Simon Pearson, director of the Lincoln Institute of Agri Food Technology, captured it best: “When we consider what the farm of the future is likely to look like, the reality is that it will be a much more diverse system than we’ve ever had before.” He envisions a mix of cutting-edge technologies paired with time-honoured practices, creating a balance between food production and the delivery of public goods.
Measuring Emissions
In a field that grew spring barley this year, a carbon flux tower is currently measuring how effectively the crop captures carbon and the amount of carbon dioxide it emits. The aim is to help the supply chain reduce greenhouse gas emissions, explained Georgina Barratt, an applied crop scientist at the British Beet Research Organisation.
“A crop with a long growing season, like sugar beet, captures carbon for longer compared to something like spring barley,” she said. “This shows that a high-input, highly productive crop can still maintain a good carbon balance, contrary to popular belief.”
Cow Monitoring Technology
Elsewhere on the farm, technology is helping the pedigree herd of Lincoln Reds thrive. Bolus monitoring, used by farm manager Matt Bagley, supports his “prevention rather than cure” approach. The tech provides daily updates on rumination, temperature, water intake, movement, and even when cows are in heat, allowing early intervention for any health issues and improving breeding success.
“It has minimised the need for vet visits and antibiotics use,” he said. “The bolus, complete with a sim card, stays in the cow’s reticulum for five years, and its accuracy has been spot on.” While the Smaxtec system comes with a cost – after the one-off setup, it’s £3 per cow per month – Bagley says the benefits have outweighed it. “We’ve seen improved health, welfare, and reproduction rates, and it helps us make better use of genetics.”
Agroforestry: Growing More with Trees
Rows of trees planted alongside arable crops have boosted productivity and improved nitrogen-use efficiency on a 12-hectare field. Agroforestry expert Stephen Briggs explained that their enterprise was set up in 2018, with eight rows of mixed native trees for timber planted between 24-metre-wide alleys.
“Agroforestry makes the farm bigger by going 3-D,” Briggs said, emphasising the positive impact on productivity and sustainability.