2019-02-20 |
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Dairy-Tech secures itself as Leading Innovation Show
After only its second show Dairy-Tech has secured itself as the platform for showcasing ground-breaking concepts and innovation, with over 50 exhibitors launching new products at this year’s event.
The event saw an 18% increase in its visitor figures, hosted 290 exhibitors, two diverse speaker hubs and a brand new skills studio – the one-stop-shop for students and new entrants to the industry.
Dairy-Tech was designed to showcase everything new and the event model has proved this is exactly what it does through the quality of its visitors says national agricultural strategy director, Oliver McEntyre, from principal sponsor Barclays.
“The event is geared towards all dairy farmers who are looking for the latest innovations to carry their business and the industry forward.”
RABDF managing director Matt Knight said the event had surpassed everyone’s expectations by establishing its place in the industry in such a short time.
“Over 80% of visitors held buying power for their company which we believe is the result of creating a paid entry event with a unique offering. 76% also claimed to have visited because of the new products on offer, another statistic testament to the focus of Dairy-Tech.”
It was standing space only on the dairy and innovation hubs where crowds looked to learn more about critical industry issues and future innovation and ideas from a diverse programme of specialist and global speakers.
As part of its jam-packed schedule the innovation hub saw The Small Robot Company explain how their robots could help farmers move away from the need to invest in expensive kit whilst Solveiga Pakstaite, founder of Mimica Touch, presented the company’s new revolutionary labels – designed to spoil at the same rate as the food product (milk) – helping combat some of the food waste problem in the UK. Whilst other sessions on this hub focused on revolutionary advances and pioneering concepts the dairy hub was tackling the current issues affecting dairy farms; contracts, can we deliver the Clean Air Strategy and staff development were amongst these, whilst World Wide Sires Dr Scott Abbott discussed whether voluntary wait periods in the UK are too short.
Elsewhere the first ever skills studio was a huge success – the hub hosted CV clinics, course and apprenticeship information, was home to the Dairy Student Award final debate and Farm Health Management winner announcement. Queen’s University Belfast student Joshua Thompson took home the Dairy Student crown with Steffan Rees from Aberystwyth University named runner up. Ceri Davies from Aberystwyth Uni and Andy Smith from Bridgwater and Taunton College won the vet and agric sections of the Farm Health Management Award.
The event also saw North Yorkshire’s Metcalfe Farms crowned winner of the 2018 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup with PBD Biotech winning the Royal Dairy Innovation Award for their Actiphage testing technology – an innovative new test for the rapid detection of bovine TB, Johnes disease and other myobacterial infections. Both awards were presented by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal.
The Princess Royal delivered a short speech stating how Dairy-Tech is a must-visit for all those looking to the future; helping the sector reflect just where it is going, the investment in it and the future success of it.
