Long-term experiments (LTEs) are valuable resources to assess the sustainability and resilience of agricultural practices and systems. This conference will focus on using LTEs to meet current and future challenges in agriculture. We will explore how LTEs are advancing agronomy, agroecology, soil science, crop science and statistics to underpin farming systems that support nutritious diets while safeguarding our environment.
A key focus will be collaboration between LTEs around the world, including how new metadata platforms (such as the Global Long Term Experiment Network) and new statistical approaches enable data to be combined to answer questions pertinent to the Sustainability Development Goals.
This event allows delegates to present on-site or online to maximise the global engagement. The meeting includes oral presentations, a poster session, workshops, a visit to the Rothamsted Long-Term Experiments, and an optional conference dinner. The conference will celebrate the 180th anniversary of the Broadbalk Winter Wheat experiment. Broadbalk is the world’s oldest field experiment, and was established in 1843 to investigate the relative importance of different plant nutrients. Today, it helps to answer questions about how farming practices, inputs, and weather patterns affect crop production.
Event Sessions:
- Multi-LTE analysis (methods for joint analysis of datasets from multiple LTEs to answer novel questions)
- Design and data analysis (making the most of LTEs via clever design and analysis strategies)
- New tools and sensors (new technologies and methods to capture new data) - Soil health (including C, nutrient management, and microbial activity)
- Climate (assessing impacts of climate change and exploring adaptation and mitigation strategies)
- Farm systems for the future (lessons from LTEs for designing future farming systems)
- Nutrition from the ground up (links between soil, plant, animal, and human nutrition)
The program will include workshops on:
- Adapting LTEs to answer key challenges
- Data management for analysis including:
1) Data management for meta-analysis: Richard Ostler
2) Statistical approaches: Andrew Mead
- Field visits to Rothamsted’s long-term experiments and sample archives
We are delighted to announce the following confirmed speakers:
- Christine Watson (SRUC)
- Jorgen Eivind Olesen (Aarhus University)
- Christian Thierfelder (CIMMYT)
- Andrew Neal (Rothamsted Research)
Abstract Submission: We encourage submission of abstracts for delegates to present their work linked to any aspect of using LTEs. We will select oral presentations from both in-person and online delegates so please submit an abstract however you will participate in the meeting.
Submit an Abstract here - Submit An Abstract - Association of Applied Biologists (aab.org.uk)
Register here - Meeting Fees - Long Term Experiments: meeting future challenges (cvent.com)
Members of the British Society of Soil Science are eligible for a discount on tickets and should select the appropriate 'AAB Member' rate to receive the discounted fees. Registration for in-person delegates closes May 30th.
