As UK farmers face continued pressure from market volatility, shifting subsidies, and tightening legislation, sharing knowledge in hope of finding new solutions has never been more critical. That's why this year's Cereals Event, held on June 11-12, will once again feature the Seed to Shelf stage – a farmer-focused seminar programme designed to equip arable businesses with the tools, knowledge and contacts needed to thrive in uncertain times.

Sponsored by KWS, the Seed to Shelf stage dives deep into the arable supply chain – from policies and finance to seed development and crop choices. Across two packed days, visitors will gain practical insight into boosting productivity, improving margins, and tapping into market opportunities, all while reducing environmental impact.

"Farmers are facing tighter margins, rising input costs, and more complex sustainability expectations than ever," says Andy McGrath, marketing manager at KWS. "Seed to Shelf is about helping growers make informed decisions that deliver value throughout the entire chain – from genetics to grain specifications, and beyond."

KWS will showcase how its latest genetics – like the new Group 1 wheat variety KWS Vibe – meet both grower and processor needs. "Our focus is not just on yield but also traits like disease resistance and grain quality that reduce input reliance and deliver better returns," says Mr McGrath. "It's about practical innovation that works in the field and adds value all the way to the end product.

"As part of our new Productivity² initiative we are also looking at how yield and quality improvements from genetics, combined with more efficient use of inputs through key traits like disease resistance, can improve productivity and margins for growers," he adds.

"Extending this thinking into the various stages of food and drink production can not only help reduce the carbon footprint of products, but in some cases, we have also been able to improve efficiency in the following process, such as greater alcohol extraction.

"We believe passionately that on-the-ground farming must integrate fully with the wider food supply chain industry and it is precisely for this reason that we are so proud to be the main sponsor of the 'Seed to Shelf' initiative at Cereals."

Opening the stage on the first day of the event will be Farmers Weekly with a policy-focused 'Question Time' – building on the success of these events across the country in recent months. In this interactive session, leading figures from politics, lobbying and agribusiness will debate the outlook for farming after a turbulent 12 months.

"Our Question Time events have provoked lively debate on farming's biggest issues at venues around the country," explains Question Time chair and Farmers Weekly's podcast and projects editor, Johann Tasker. "I'm really looking forward to putting as many of your questions as possible to our panel of experts at a time of heightened uncertainty for the arable sector." 

Looking to some of the opportunities in the arable sector, a session sponsored by the UK Agri-Tech Centre will delve into some of the latest innovations the centre has supported, led by head of sustainability, Harry Langford.  

Continuing the theme of emerging technologies, former secretary of state for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice, will be looking into the promise of precision breeding in a session sponsored by the British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN). "George was the Minister at Defra when the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill went through," explains BOFIN founder Tom Allen-Stevens. "He has a really good insight into what Ministers were trying to achieve with the legislation and why it is an opportunity for the UK. We will be exploring that, as well as the science behind precision-bred organisms."

Another key interest for Mr Eustice is bio-pesticides, so this will too be touched upon in the discussions. "Biostimulants and bio-pesticides offer an awful lot of opportunity to UK growers, and we've seen the benefits in trials," says Mr Allen-Stevens. "But we need more data from commercial farms, which we're unable to do with the current legislation. George is championing a change in the law on bio-pesticides, in a similar way to how precision-bred organisms are being treated, which sounds like a really good idea and something I'm keen to explore in this discussion."

Other sessions include advice on diversifying your farm business, sponsored by Sykes Holiday Cottages, as well as a panel discussion with the Women in Food and Farming Network, says event director Alli McEntyre. "With uncertainty over future land use, trade deals, and food policy, there's never been a more important time for farmers to engage, ask questions, and shape the future of UK farming."

·        Ticket details and the full programme can be found at www.cerealsevent.co.uk.