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Agriculture could save the planet, but only if it is allowed to benefit from new techniques and innovation.

That was the message from Jack Bobo, director of the University of Nottingham's Food Systems Institute, who was speaking ahead of the Low Carbon Agriculture Show (LCA).

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"It is an exciting time for agriculture. We have an enormous challenge of producing 25 per cent more food by 2050 but we often forget what comes next," said Mr Bobo.

Read also: British Cattle Breeders Conference - It is not just about 'zero emissions'

Food production

"The challenge is not to produce more and more food forever. After 2050 population growth slows dramatically. We have already reached peak child, the amount of children born next year will be less than this year and the year after that.

"So the challenge is to get to 2050 without cutting down our forests, without draining our rives, lakes and aquifers because if we do we will be good forever.

Read also: Q&A: Six Inches of Soil - "We want to get the public and the policymakers onside and to get farming the long term investment that it needs"

"Every day between now and 2050 it gets harder to feed the world but every day after 2050 it will get easier so we have to just deliver in this next 30 years and if we do that, that is why agriculture will save the planet."

Low Carbon Agriculture Show

LCA is run by FG's parent company Agriconnect and takes place at NAEC Stoneleigh on March 6/7.

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