At ARU in Writtle, we play an active role in supporting the agricultural sector in our local region. We host a range of events, workshops and conferences that bring together farmers, industry professionals, policymakers and researchers.
These include sector-focused events such as the Writtle Farmers’ Club conference and technical workshops on sustainable and regenerative farming, providing opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration. Our specialist facilities, including our working farm and research units, are also used in partnership with commercial growers and industry organisations for applied research and trials. In addition, Writtle offers short courses, CPD and professional training opportunities that support skills development across the land-based sector.
Writtle Farmers Club Annual Conference
In 2024, ARU in Writtle (then Writtle University College) hosted a conference bringing together regenerative farmers with leading academics such as Professor Tim Lang and Peter Hobson, to discuss the UK’s food and farming landscape. The conference showcased the immense potential of transitions to more sustainable ways of farming, with speakers such as John and Joanna Cherry who run the host farm for the Groundswell Regenerative Agriculture Festival and Becky Mayhew, who converted an intensively run 500-acre farm in south Norfolk into a regenerative oasis.
Farming for the Future Essex
A workshop at ARU in Writtle in early 2026 brought together participants to explore how to help the agricultural sector adapt to a changing climate. Participants included farmers, government organisations, academics, the private sector and NGOs.
Technical workshops
In 2025, we hosted a two-day event for academics and industry participants, focussed on improving indoor crop yields while cutting resource use. The event took place on our Chelmsford campus, and was the first workshop in the UK to bring participants the expertise of Netherlands-based Plant Empowerment, who are global leaders in sustainable crop production.
Industry partnerships to improve agriculture and food production
Writtle has a rich tradition of industry collaboration that makes a difference to sustainable agriculture and crop production. Examples of our knowledge exchange projects, all of which were supported by Research England, include collaborations to establish a new pig behaviour and welfare centre, research on probiotic supplements for livestock in partnership with Kemin Industries, exploring the potential of insect farming for animal feed and collaborating with a wide consortium of partners to test the potential of an innovative solar-powered technology for vertical crop production.
Nourishing our Future study shared with MP’s and UK’s Chief Medical Officer
ARU researchers collaborated Essex County Council Public Health to produce a report on healthy eating for children under 5 which has been presented to UK MPs and the Chief Medical Officer. The report highlighted the public health challenge of healthy eating amongst children, with school lunch boxes often containing unhealthy choices. Cost of food and children’s preferences were found to be the biggest obstacles to healthy and sustainable choices. The researchers then worked with local schools to help children try healthier options and to help parents to identify and afford better choices for lunchboxes. The research had great impact, and led to the creation of the Essex Early Years Nourishing our Future Award (NOF Award), which will celebrate and elevate food and nutrition practices across early years settings in Essex.
Last updated: October 2026
To request additions, corrections or changes to the information in these pages, please contact: Dr Zareen Bharucha: [email protected]. Please use the subject line ‘ARU SDG’.