Farm businesses across Yorkshire are to be offered fresh support from the Farmer Scientist Network to embrace artificial intelligence and sustainable farming practices.
A series of events and training opportunities for farmers and rural businesses will be available throughout 2026, thanks to a £7,500 grant awarded to the Farmer Scientist Network by Anglo-American as part of its Thriving Communities programme.
The Farmer Scientist Network is supported through the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, a registered charity, and exists to seek new ways for science and technology to underpin agricultural innovation.
The Network’s first event funded by Anglo-American, and specifically for farmers and rural business owners, will explain how artificial intelligence (AI) can support day-to-day farming operations and will share advice on how to protect farm and rural businesses from cybersecurity risks.
‘The Connected Farm: Staying Safe and Getting Ahead with Artificial Intelligence’, is free to attend at Malton and Norton RUFC from 6.30pm on Thursday 16 April and includes a free supper.
Taking part in a panel discussion will be Dr Sam Hoste, a local farmer and CEO of leading animal agri-tech consultancy Quantech Solutions (UK) Ltd, and Richard Lanning, founder and director of Enterprise CUBE, a community interest company that uses its profits to support disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Other speakers include Tobie Abel, founder of ATS York which helps organisations adopt AI, and Nick Baker from NFU Mutual’s cyber crime team.
Dr Dave George, Chair of the Farmer Scientist Network said:
It’s going to be a really useful evening for anyone involved in farming and rural businesses.
Our speakers at this event are at the top of their game when it comes to the smart use of artificial intelligence and cyber security and will offer practical information to help inform business decisions.
More activities are planned by the Farmer Scientist Network, thanks to the grant from Anglo-American.
Working with The Allerton Project at the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust this Spring, the Network will be offering fully funded training to farmers in sustainable land management. Part of this training will be to encourage farmers to share what they learn across their networks in the Yorkshire region.
Later in the year, in the Autumn, a hands-on, interactive event will look at what the latest Sustainable Farming Incentive and Biodiversity Net Gain offer means for farms.
In total, more than 100 farmers are expected to benefit directly from the programme of events and activities organised by the Farmer Scientist Network this year with funding from Anglo-American.
Vicky Bolton, Social Programmes Manager at Anglo American said:
We’re committed to supporting social and economic development across the region through our Thriving Communities programme.
Food and farming are central to that mission, and we’re delighted to be working with the Yorkshire Agricultural Society to create meaningful opportunities for farmers across Yorkshire.
Anglo American’s Thriving Communities programme forms part of its Woodsmith project near Whitby and started in 2021 to deliver local socio-economic benefits via education, health and livelihood initiatives.
The programme includes a commitment to champion sustainable agriculture and work collaboratively to encourage the expansion of sustainable practices on farms in the region.
The Woodsmith project employs 1,100 people and is under construction to access the world’s largest known deposit of polyhalite, a natural mineral fertiliser that will support sustainable farming practices for future generations.
