Farmers, planners and policymakers to meet to turn new Government reservoir policies into real-world action on the ground.
Farmers, planners, regulators and industry leaders from across Lincolnshire will come together later this year to explore how new Government commitments on water storage and on-farm reservoirs can be translated into practical action across Lincolnshire and beyond.
The event, led by the Greater Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture, will build on discussions that began at forum meetings last year, and were expanded on at a regional reservoir summit earlier this year hosted by the agri-forum, which brought together partners from across Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and the wider East Anglia region.
That event highlighted the growing threat that drought, water shortages and flooding pose to food production and identified on-farm reservoirs as a key part of the solution.
On farm reservoirs can help farmers secure water supplies during dry periods, reduce pressure on rivers and support flood management, but there are currently too many barriers around planning, regulation, licensing and funding to their development.
This event, planned for later this year, will focus on the practical realities of reservoir delivery, bringing together farmers, planning authorities, regulators, water companies, academics and policy experts to discuss the latest policy developments and what they mean for agricultural businesses.
Matt Riddington, Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture, said: "Water security and food security are inseparable. As we face increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, ensuring farmers have reliable access to water is becoming essential for the future of UK food production.
"Our last event made the case for water to the Government and demonstrated that there is broad agreement around both the challenges and the opportunities. After the drought we’ve had this summer, which has been detrimental for many farmers, we were glad to see that the Government has recognised our ideas.
“The next step to getting on-farm reservoirs built is bringing together the people who can help navigate the new policy changes and turn it into practical delivery.
"This event will provide farmers with direct access to planners, regulators and decision-makers so that we can all better understand the new measures being proposed and identify what still needs to change to make reservoirs viable and deliverable."
The event follows recent Government commitments aimed at making it easier for farmers to build and utilise on-farm reservoirs, a move welcomed by GLFFAH, UK Food Valley and Lincolnshire County Council.
Cllr Paul Lock, Executive Councillor for Economy and Investment at Lincolnshire County Council, said: "Lincolnshire's farmers have consistently told us that access to water is a growing challenge facing their businesses.
"Reservoirs are a proven way of increasing resilience, but too often farmers face lengthy planning processes, regulatory complexity and significant costs before a project can even begin.
"By bringing together planners, regulators, industry representatives and farmers, we have a real opportunity to develop a better understanding of the new policy landscape, create an atmosphere of growth and continue making the case for solutions that work for Lincolnshire and the wider agricultural sector."
The event forms part of the county council and agri-forum's ongoing work to champion the interests of Lincolnshire's farming and horticultural sectors, and help shape future policy around water resilience, environmental management and food production.
Further details, including the venue, speakers and registration arrangements, will be announced in the coming weeks.
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