Save the date for Transition Live 2025

With the nights drawing in and temperatures dropping, it is time to look forward to the sunnier days of next spring and save the date for Transition Live 2025.

After a hugely successful inaugural event, Transition Live is now a key part of Farmers Weekly’s Transition Project, which aims to help make your farm more environmentally and financially sustainable.

The first Transition Live event took place last May on a warm and sunny spring day – yes, there really was one.

Hundreds of visitors descended on the Cambridgeshire venue to hear thought-provoking ideas, learn about research findings and glean practical advice from the experts on hand.

Panel discussions were headlined by senior politicians, farm business leaders, researchers and farmers who set out the issues involved.

Lively question-and-answer sessions followed, with the audience putting the experts on the spot with practical, policy and financial queries.

Event-goers were able to select which discussions were most important for their farm businesses from a wide range of topics.

Issues covered included:

• Optimising arable margins
• Securing the future for livestock production
• Adding value through collaboration
• Generating revenue from natural capital
• Improving soil health
• Carbon trading
• Making renewable energy profitable.

Also central to the day was the location itself and the chance to take part in a relaxed but informative farm walk around the event host’s research and commercial unit.

Next year’s event will build on this successful format.

© Phil Weedon

Host farm

In 2025 Transition Live will move further north to the University of Leeds’ farm unit in West Yorkshire.

The mixed farm is owned by the university and managed commercially. It is about 13 miles from the main university campus, with easy access from both the A1 and A64 main roads.

The farm includes arable, grass leys, permanent pasture and farm woodlands, with extensive areas of managed hedgerows.

It also boasts facilities for specialist freshwater and plant biology research.

Projects at the farm are run by the White Rose Sustainable Agriculture Consortium – a collaboration between the universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York.

Over the past 10 years the consortium has won £4m in grants and support for studentships to study key practical issues to help make farming more efficient and sustainable.

Networking and CPD points

Outside the busy schedule, Transition Live offers visitors the chance to network with farmers, researchers and policymakers.

Everyone is facing business, environmental and production challenges, and Transition Live provides a golden opportunity to meet up, compare notes and trade ideas.

Transition Live is also a Basis-registered event where attendees can collect three continuous professional development (CPD) points.

There will be a designated area at the event where you can complete the necessary forms, so remember to bring along your Basis account number.