Farmers in north-west England are being invited to a workshop to discuss the risks and opportunities climate change presents to their businesses.

Organised by Farming Futures, in partnership with the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), the event will focus on the regional impacts of climate change and what farmers can do now to prepare their businesses.

Taking place on December 11, 2008 the workshop, in Alderly Edge, Cheshire, will also look at the opportunities provided by anaerobic digestion (AD) and combined heat and power (CHP) units.

Claire Skinner, Farming Futures project manager, said: “Anaerobic digestion is just one of the opportunities that farmers are looking at, contributing to farm income, as well as tackling waste and pollution and climate change at the same time.

“In some AD units the waste from just three cows can produce enough gas to provide electricity for one household.”

A recent survey by Farming Futures found 40 per cent of farmers in the North West are already taking action to adapt to the impacts of climate change on their farm.

The survey results also found that more than half of farmers in the North West believe they are already affected by climate change, and 56 per cent expect to be affected in the next ten years.

Claire Wyatt, Farming Futures project manager said: “Climate change will affect us all; that’s why we’re inviting farmers in the North West to attend a free, special event to find out more about how they can reduce costs and risks in the future.”

Farming Futures is an industry-led collaboration project between the NFU, CLA, AIC, AHRF, Forum for the Future and DEFRA, to communicate practical action on climate change.

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