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27.06.2018

Visitors to the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology stand at this month's industry-leading Cereals Event took a tour through future farmed landscapes using immersive virtual reality, as well as being given the chance to learn what the ASSIST sustainable agriculture project can deliver.

The long-term ASSIST research programme, led by CEH in collaboration with Rothamsted Research and British Geological Survey, is combining spatial and agriculutural ecology in innovative ways.

Our version of Minecraft, CEH Craft, using CEH Land Cover® Map and CEH Crop Map data, was a definite hit. It represents the farmed landscape as it is now and how it might change in the future – including the habitats, crops, animals and buildings in VR. One of its creators Dr Tom August was on hand to guide users.

Also on show was the ASSIST Scenario Exploration Tool which allows users to explore the impacts of potential changes in the way we farm the British landscape. Main developer John Redhead showed visitors what the tool can deliver.

 

 

There was also an opportunity to see the Data Combine benchmarking tool from ASSIST partners Agrimetrics.

Professor Richard Pywell, CEH's Head of Biodiversity science, was among the team at our Cereals stand. He said, "Farmers play a vital role in shaping and managing our countryside.

"The Minecraft tool is one of many ways we are working with farmers to design and visualise new commercial farming systems that are sustainable and resilient to future shocks."

See more from the event via our Cereals 2018 Twitter Moment.

Videos

Watch a longer video introducing the ASSIST programme

View a walkthrough of the ASSIST Scenario Exploration Tool

Related links

ASSIST (Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Systems)

CEH Land Cover® Map