PRESS RELEASE - 01/2/05

FIFTH FARMING CONNECT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE Farming Connect's new Development Centre, the Centre for Alternative Land Use (or CALU), is holding its first event for farming families later this month. The event, looking at Biomass and Energy Crops, takes place on Wednesday February 16 at Alice Springs Golf Club, Usk, from 7.30pm. Topics such as growing and harvesting biomass crops, associated costs and revenue potential will be discussed, led by Dr Rebecca Heaton, ADAS Bio-Renewables. Anyone interested in attending should contact Farming Connect facilitator Glyn Davies on 01495 333645, or CALU on 01248 680450. This new centre of excellence has been developed as the fifth Farming Connect development centre; the others being for the dairy, beef and sheep, organic and grassland sectors. Focusing specifically on the areas of horticulture, novel crops, novel livestock, biomass and farm woodlands, CALU is based at Henfaes Research Station, part of University of Wales, Bangor, and aims to become the focal point for technology transfer across a range of non-commodity enterprises. "All of these areas offer real economic opportunities for farmers who want to diversify without turning their backs on land-based production," says CALU manager, Geraint Hughes. CALU is run under the directorship of Professor Gareth Edwards-Jones from the university's School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, and in partnership with ADAS Wales, the Welsh College of Horticulture at Northop, Coed Cymru, and Coleg Llysfasi. Various projects are under-way, and during the summer farmers will have the opportunity to see first-hand various novel crops, such as non-conventional cereal crops, fibre crops, oilseed crops and biomass crops, growing on Welsh farms. Indeed the Centre is keen for farmers to take up the challenge, and encourages the formation of business development and discussion groups. Interested farmers should contact their local Farming Connect facilitator. The establishment of CALU is a very important addition to the Farming Connect programme, and coming as it does in the wake of reform of the Common Agricultural Policy, is very timely. It also opens at a time of increasing public understanding of how our energy, food and goods are produced, along with the on-going drive to improve sustainability through innovation. For more information about CALU's services ring 01248 680450 or email calu@bangor.ac.uk Farming Connect offers a range of services to help farming families adapt to changes in the industry, become more sustainable and better understand the market place. The Welsh Assembly Government, Welsh Development Agency and other partners deliver these services. It is supported by the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund of the European Union. For more information about Farming Connect telephone 08456 000813 or visit www.farmingconnect.co.uk.