A new two-day showcase will explore how transforming the UK's biomass industry can unlock a sustainable and resilient future - boosting energy security, supporting agricultural and environmental goals, and driving economic growth.

Innovation and knowledge-exchange platform Biomass Connect will host the new event 'Harnessing Innovation and the Future of Biomass' at Warwick University's prime meeting space The Slate, on 7-8 November.

The free event features a series of engaging talks, demonstrations, and networking opportunities with industry leaders, innovators, stakeholders, and allied industries, who will share the latest in biomass research and innovation from laboratory breakthroughs to real-world applications on farms.

"Through this two-day event we aim to develop a vision for the role of UK-produced biomass in the drive towards net zero," says Professor Jeanette Whitaker, Biomass Connect project lead and principal scientist in soil and land use at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

"The Government's Biomass Strategy 2023 highlights biomass as a key player in decarbonising various sectors of the economy. The Climate Change Committee (CCC) recommends that to meet Government net zero targets, 700,000 ha of biomass crops will need to be planted in the UK by 2050, compared to the 10,000 ha currently planted."

The CCC has also identified the need for training and knowledge exchange across the sector, to give farmers and landowners confidence in the integration and upscaling of biomass production.

"Biomass Connect serves as a pivotal hub for innovation and knowledge-sharing. By integrating knowledge sharing, research and practical demonstrations, we are driving the sector towards a sustainable and economically viable future," she adds.

So what can delegates expect from the agenda?

At the heart of the showcase will be the demonstration of some of the most recent developments in the sector from innovation projects participating under the government-funded Biomass Feedstocks Innovation (BFI) programme.

Delegates will hear from leading global experts including Will MacAlpine at Rothamsted Research and Kerrie Farrar at Aberystwyth University on how genomic selection is accelerating the development of short rotation coppice (SRC) willow, and new, resilient miscanthus varieties. Seed technology and novel crop varieties of the future will also be discussed by Paul Carver, New Energy Farms.

Practical insights from farmers, crop suppliers, and consultants on how to implement biomass into land management strategies will also be shared. Tenant arable farmer John Hawkins will share his experience of incorporating biomass crops, while Crops for Energy's Kevin Lindegaard, highlights how connectivity and the decision-making tool Envirocrops positions farmers and the wider industry for success. New end uses for natural biomass resources, like heather, will also feature - as will how biomass crops can improve and protect natural resources.

Delegates can also experience the future of willow planting and harvesting with Willow Energy's Jamie Rickerby showcasing his cutting-edge robotic planting and harvesting machinery.  

Aeroponics to fast-track sustainable propagation of willow is also set to feature, as is the optimisation of miscanthus establishment through improved mechanisation and data capture.

Workshops and speakers will focus on the future of the biomass industry and its integration into carbon frameworks. Oxford University's Steve Smith will discuss carbon dioxide removal and global scale up, while Enrique Cornejo at Offshore Energy UK will discuss the development of industrial scale long term carbon storage.

From further afield, Tim Volk at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (USA), will reflect on willow production in the US, before the two days conclude on creating a blueprint for a future UK biomass industry.

"The showcase is a pivotal gathering for the UK biomass sector," says Prof Whitaker. "By bringing together industry leaders and key stakeholders, we aim to forge a blueprint for a commercially viable future of biomass, aligned with the UK's net zero ambitions.

"We invite all stakeholders, from landowners to policymakers, to join us at The Slate, Warwick University, on 7-8 November."

·        To view the showcase agenda (subject to change) and to register for this free and transformative event, visit www.biomassconnect.org/showcase-event/