Join IAgrE CEO Charlie Nicklin, Independent Agronomist Kieran Walsh, Innovation Specialist Clive Blacker, Head of Education & Partnerships, BASIS, Harry Henderson, Technology Manager at the Foundation for Arable Research, New Zealand, Chris Smith and Landwards editor Andy Newbold Hon FIAgrE for a no holds barred full on discussion about what was hot (and not) in Hannover, Germany in November 2025.

Agricultural engineers and agronomists unpack what really mattered at Agritechnica and LandTechnik AgEng 2025: from robots and autonomy to smart implements, soil sensing, and alternative powertrains. They separate marketing vanity from practical engineering, highlighting where data, AI, and clever hardware are already delivering value – and where the industry is still in proof‑of‑concept mode. Expect frank views on Chinese OEMs, hybrid and electric drives, and why evolution on farm will beat revolution.

Landwards Editor Andy Newbold Hon FIAgrE in conversation with :

Richard Bate, newly elected IOSH president, discussed the importance of education, mental health, and environmental change in the rural industries community. He highlighted that despite being only 1% of the workforce, rural industries account for over 20% of workforce deaths. Bate emphasized early education and engagement with children to foster risk management skills. He shared a statistic that globally, 157 people die every 25 minutes. Sam Downer from Mates in Mind stressed the need for effective mental health support in farming communities. Mike Whiting, chair of IOSH's rural industries group, reflected on the successful Growing Safely conference, which covered topics like drones, AI, and mental health.

Action Items

• Maintain and develop the liaison between the Rural Industries Group and HSE (via Wayne Owen) to ensure a clear contact route for regulatory support
• Continue planning future Rural Industries Group conferences and events (venue, speakers and programme), building on the Growing Safely conference template
• Focus the IOSH presidency on improving safety in rural sectors for the forthcoming year, including promoting education and environmental change discussions
• Develop and publish the agri wellbeing alliance website and provide resources and signposting for mental‑health support and accidental counsellor training

Richard Bate's Inaugural Speech and Key Themes

• Andy Newbold introduces Richard Bate, the new president of IOSH, and mentions the focus on rural industries.
• Richard Bate discusses his three main themes: education, mental health and well-being, and environmental change.
• Richard emphasises the importance of discussing environmental change despite its polarising nature.
• Andy Newbold and Richard agree on the reality of changing weather patterns and their impact on agriculture.

Statistics and Education in Rural Industries

• Richard Bate shares a startling statistic: rural industries are responsible for more than 20% of workforce deaths despite being only 1% of the workforce.
• Richard stresses the need to reframe discussions around statistics and engage with children early on health and safety.
• Richard recounts a personal story about a farmer's aggressive response to safety advice, highlighting the need for support and education.
• Andy Newbold and Richard discuss the importance of contextualizing safety issues and the role of parents in building risk management skills in children.

Sam Downie from Mates in Mind

• Andy Newbold introduces Sam Downie from Mates in Mind, a charity focused on mental health in higher-risk sectors.
• Sam emphasizes the importance of having conversations about mental health and the need for support networks.
• Sam provides contact information for Mates in Mind and encourages listeners to seek help if they are struggling with their mental well-being.

Technology and Safety in Agriculture

• Mike Whiting discusses the role of technology, such as AI and predictive maintenance, in enhancing safety in agriculture.
• Andy Newbold and Mike emphasize that while technology is an enabler, the focus should be on how it is used and interacted with.
• The conference included a session by John Deere on the benefits and challenges of agri-tech and autonomy.
• Mike reflects on the success of the conference, the positive feedback from attendees, and the importance of continued collaboration and support.

This recording covers how forestry, timber, water management, and safety regulation intersect with land-based engineering, and why agricultural engineers sit at the centre of these systems.

* Apologies for the background noise in some of the interviews, it was a lively conference environment!

Key Takeaways

1. Timber & Species Diversification - Prof. Dan Ridley‑Ellis

• Future timber supply must adapt to climate change and disease, so we need species diversification beyond traditional commercial species.
• What matters to most users is performance, not species name: strength, durability, processability.
• The timber of 2050 is already in the ground – current forestry decisions lock in future material properties.
• Small datasets on “new” species are a big risk; **some data is better than reputation-based assumptions**.
• Opportunity: engineers specifying materials should ask for performance-based criteria, not just traditional species labels.

2. SuDS & Water on Difficult Land - Anna Cuanalo MICE - ARUP

• Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) rules were written for urban settings but are now being applied to rural infrastructure (forest roads, access tracks).
• - This creates compliance challenges but also opportunities for integrated water and land management.
• Agricultural engineers are central in:
• Designing roads and access on steep, wet, rocky land.
• Managing soil, runoff, and erosion at landscape scale.
• The profession is broader than “things with wheels”: it’s soils, water, land use, and access engineering.

3. Practical SuDS in Forestry - Felix Merry Natural Resources Wales

• In Wales, SuDS is now unavoidable for many forest schemes; forestry is effectively a test bed for others.
• Engineers must upskill in hydraulic modelling to justify schemes to regulators.
• Practical hierarchy:
• Prefer infiltration into soil.
• If collected, attenuate and slow the flow (e.g. swales, check dams, timber dams).
• Last resort: discharge to watercourses.
• Shows the rising need for hydrology‑literate land engineers who can demonstrate performance, not just build tracks.

4. CDM Regulations in Forestry - Iwan Lloyd Williams MICfor – Forestry Consultant

• Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (CDM) absolutely apply to day‑to‑day forestry operations.
• Forestry is not a cowboy industry: it already identifies hazards and manages risk; CDM mainly formalises existing duties of care.
• Forestry has its own professional safety guidance (e.g. FISA); much of CDM is about clear roles, responsibilities and documentation.
• For agricultural engineers, this reinforces the need to treat land-based projects as formal construction work in the eyes of the law.

Soundbites

-“The timber we need in 2050 is already in the ground.”
- “Trees grow wood for their own reasons – they’re not thinking about us.”
- “Some data is better than no data.”
- “Agricultural engineering sits right in the middle of our land management.”
- “SuDS was written for urban flooding, but it’s now landing on steep, wet forestry ground.”
- “Forestry is doing CDM already – just with different words.”

Keywords / Phrases

- Species diversification
- Sitka spruce, homegrown spruce
- Wood properties, performance-based specification
- Climate resilience, future resource
- SuDS – Sustainable Dra<