Three of the UK’s worst harvests on record have occurred in the past six years due to extreme weather, with 2026 set to continue the trend. It has never been more important to help people understand how environmental science is building a more resilient food system. That’s why the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) is partnering with Farmers Weekly to bring cutting-edge research to New Scientist Live for the first time.
New Scientist Live is one of the UK’s largest science festivals, welcoming around 25,000 people to ExCel London on 10-12 October. Through its extensive participation programme, UKCEH will inspire young people from all backgrounds to see how a career in environmental science can help tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges and create a better future for people and nature.
Dr Stuart Wainwright OBE, Chief Executive of UKCEH said: "We are delighted to be partnering with Farmers Weekly to exhibit at New Scientist Live for the first time. Food is something that unites us all, and we’re so excited to highlight the opportunities and challenges we face to make farming more sustainable and protect our food security.
"With the event’s amazing widening participation programme, we’ll be able to show young people from all walks of life that they could have a future career in environmental science and make a real and positive difference in the world."
As part of the Farmers Weekly ‘Future of Food & Agriculture: Feeding the World Sustainably’ stand, UKCEH will bring the science of sustainable agriculture to life, by exploring three key questions:
How do we use new technology to find out what wildlife lives on our farms?
Visitors will discover how cutting-edge tech is supporting farmers to be more nature-friendly, from sensors detecting secret soil symphonies to an AI moth photo booth that identifies species in seconds.
What food will be growing in the UK in 2050?
Through an immersive virtual reality experience, visitors will travel through time on a working farm to explore how climate change could affect familiar crops such as potatoes, and what new crops might thrive in the future.
How can we make food choices that use less water?
An interactive challenge will invite visitors to rank meals by the amount of water needed to produce them, helping young people and adults understand the hidden water behind everyday foods.
Alongside the exhibition, UKCEH pollinator ecologist Dr. Nadine Mitschunas and field technician Jasmine Hughes will feature in Farmers Weekly’s Curious by Nature campaign, highlighting the wide range of careers available in agriculture.
Tickets for New Scientist Live are available now.