From Soya to Sustainability is shaping up to be a key event in 2026 for anyone interested in the future of farming and sustainable food production.
Bringing together farmers, researchers, policy specialists, economists and industry leaders, the programme reflects the breadth of expertise contributing to the UK’s move towards homegrown, lower-carbon livestock feed.
Organised by partners in the Defra-funded NCS project, the conference takes place at the KingsGate Centre, Peterborough, on Wednesday 28 January 2026.
Soya in the supermarket
The first panel session will explore how retailers, policymakers and supply chains can shift towards more sustainable protein sources. Professor Neil Ward of the University of East Anglia brings decades of expertise in agri-food policy, rural development and climate change. A former adviser to the Cabinet Office, Neil co-leads the AFN Network+, a national initiative connecting over 3,000 researchers and practitioners focused on achieving net zero in the UK food system.
Joining him is Nicola Brennan of WWF UK, a leading figure in the move towards deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) supply chains. With strong international experience and a focus on soy sourcing, Nicola has worked closely with major retailers to navigate barriers and opportunities in transforming supply chains for people and nature.
Embracing change
The second panel session turns attention to the science and practice of replacing imported soya with homegrown pulses. Chairing the discussion is John McArthur, Managing Director of McArthur BDC and lead of Work Package 4 of the NCS Project which is investigating how heat-treating faba beans can improve their feeding potential.
Professor Jos Houdijk of SRUC brings world-leading expertise in monogastric nutrition. His research has demonstrated that peas and faba beans can fully replace soya bean meal in balanced pig rations – a breakthrough now informing NCS trials in poultry.
They are joined by Brian Kenyon, Senior Poultry Nutritionist at ABN, who has decades of experience supporting high-performance, sustainable poultry feeding. Brian contributes to NCS research demonstrating how UK-grown beans can reduce reliance on imported soya without compromising bird performance.
John said: “Replacing imported soya with homegrown pulses isn’t just possible – it’s already happening. What we need now is collaboration and momentum and that’s what From Soya to Sustainability is all about. It’s a place to share expertise and shape the future of UK livestock feeding together.”
Pulse Pioneers
In a workshop for the NCS project’s Pulse Pioneer farmer trialists, Jamie Burrows, NFU Combinable Crops chair, will lay out the NFU’s Sustainable Protein Action Plan and encourage growers to get behind it. The plan includes measures to boost UK production and use of protein crops – including peas, beans and lupins – in arable rotations to enhance food security, reduce reliance on imports and improve farm sustainability.
Tom Allen-Stevens of the British On-Farm Innovation Network encouraged all Pulse Pioneers to attend. He said: “This is an opportunity for our farmers to shape future policy by influencing the NFU’s feedback to Defra to ensure there is a plan we can deliver and that Defra has the confidence to support.”
The workshop will also shape the future of the project’s trials based on findings and experiences from the first two years of trials and will prioritise areas for further on-farm research.
The price of change
The final panel session will focus on the economic and carbon implications of scaling pulses and reducing soya dependence. James Webster-Rusk of The Andersons Centre leads the NCS cost-benefit analysis on expanding pulse production to 20% of UK arable land and replacing 50% of imported soya.
Liz Bowles, Chief Executive of the Farm Carbon Toolkit, will provide vital insight into emissions reduction and on-farm carbon opportunities.
With its diverse programme of speakers (and more to be confirmed soon), the conference aims to advance the NCS project ambitions to increase pulse production and reduce reliance on imported soya.
Roger Vickers CEO of PGRO and NCS project lead said: “We have the science, the farmers and the will to build a protein system that delivers for nature, climate and food security. At From Soya to Sustainability we will bring those threads together and accelerate change. I encourage anyone who wants to see British agriculture move forward to join us on 28th January.”
Tickets to the event are on sale at www.tinyurl.com/FSTS26