Cereals 2025 cemented its place as the UK's premier arable event last week, welcoming around 20,000 visitors through its gates for two dynamic days packed with innovation, insight and industry collaboration.

With 426 exhibitors and a full conference programme, the Lincolnshire-based site was buzzing as suppliers showcased the latest in agri-tech, crop solutions, sustainable practices, and productivity-boosting tools. From cutting-edge machinery and regenerative crop trials to policy debates and technical masterclasses, the event offered a powerful snapshot of where arable farming is heading and how the sector is rising to the challenge.

The opening day of the show 11 June) struck a serious note, as leading voices in agriculture warned that UK food security must become a political priority amid rising global instability and the growing impact of climate change.

"If we live in a volatile world where we've got to commit to rearming, then the other side of that is food security," said NFU President Tom Bradshaw. "If the Government is serious about the defence risks, it's got to look at food security."

Mr Bradshaw urged the Government to work in a closer partnership with the farming sector to develop realistic, future-proof policies.

"The transition from opposition to Government has been very difficult, and their lack of experience has shown through," he said. "The policies of the past 10 months have overtaken everything, and the industry hasn't recovered. They have not only upset the apple cart, they've filled it with dynamite and blown it to smithereens."

Energy security also took centre stage, with Frontier Agriculture's Diana Overton raising concerns over the threat to the UK's bioethanol industry posed by international trade deals.

"The Vivergo and Ensus biofuel plants are so important to the industry," she said. "Energy security is critical, so we need more cross-departmental thinking in Government."

Amid two extremely tough years for cereal growers, with poor weather and high input costs creating financial pressure, there were calls for clearer support. Speakers welcomed the potential for fairness in supply chain reviews to improve transparency, particularly around input pricing.

And with climate change intensifying, investment in water security was seen as urgent.

"It's currently more difficult to get permission for a reservoir than for the Sizewell C nuclear plant," said Mr Bradshaw. "We need permitted development rights for reservoirs to improve productivity, resilience, and the environment."

Visitors could explore water storage and drainage solutions first-hand, with many suppliers showcasing kits eligible under the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF). Others turned to innovation, with Wallace Currie from the UK Agri-Tech Centre highlighting the ADOPT scheme, a Defra-backed grant programme offering £50,000–£100,000 for on-farm technology development.

"As well as financial support, ADOPT offers expert advisers to help farmers access further funding and find collaborators," said Currie.

Beyond the big-picture policy debate, Cereals 2025 delivered a top-tier speaker programme covering land use, crop markets, technology, and business strategy. Seminar tents were filled throughout both days as growers and advisers tapped into expert-led discussions to tackle real-world challenges.

Increased barriers

Jeremy Moody, secretary and adviser to the CAAV, warned that public finances were tightening and that Defra may not be able to deliver on its environmental pledges.

"Defra is realising it can't afford all the environmental goals it accepted as its inheritance," he said. "The public finances appear to be in a worse position than last summer. And we know less about environmental management schemes now than we did two years ago."

Mr Moody noted that ministerial language is making it clear that farmers must treat their operations as businesses, not rely on future support. Changes to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) point to a shift toward supporting smaller farms, national parks, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Looking ahead, he predicted that less profitable farmers may choose to let land out, creating opportunities for others to scale up and produce food more profitably.

"We will have thriving businesses in the 2030s and 2040s, which are so often created in times of adversity, like now," he said. "The most important thing will be for farmers to manage change before it manages them."

Celebrating excellence

The event wasn't short of standout moments, with prestigious awards recognising talent and performance in the sector.

After four years as a finalist, Yorkshire farmer Mark Turner finally took home the top title after winning the Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year (FSOOTY).

Sponsored by Syngenta, the long-running competition celebrates precision, safety and best practice in sprayer operation. Mark operated a Bateman RB35 with a 30m boom and Ag Leader terminal and joined two other UK finalists on stage for the live results.

"I'm still in shock. I didn't think I'd win after all these years of trying, and I don't know why I put myself through it," said Mr Turner. "This year the competition was tough, but it means so much to me that I've won."

Meanwhile, day two highlighted genetics, with the Niab Variety Cup 2025 awarded to the oat variety, Mascani, recognised for its 21 years of success, consistency, and market dominance. First listed by AHDB in 2004 and bred at Aberystwyth, Mascani has long been favoured by the milling industry, now accounting for over 50% of the UK's winter oat area.

"For a winter oat to win the Variety Cup is a very special moment," said Senova's Alison Barrow. "It's down to the quality and consistency of this variety that it has succeeded."

IBERS' Dr Catherine Howarth added: "A new variety is a whole team effort, and Mascani has been a game changer. It is an exceptional quality variety, giving consistently positive results each year. The millers, merchants and farmers all like it."

Reflecting on the event's success, event director Alli McEntyre said the show had exceeded expectations.

From packed seminar tents to hands-on field demos and vital conversations about policy, climate, and innovation, the appetite for change and progress was clear. Cereals continues to be where the industry comes together to face the future, head-on."

"We're already planning for 2026 - building on this year's success to create an even more impactful event that truly reflects the evolving needs of arable farmers and the wider supply chain."

·       For more information, visit www.cerealsevent.co.uk.