BFBi Enjoy Varieties Walk with RAGT

Members of BFBi came together on 24th June for an afternoon varieties walk with RAGT at its Ickleton Head Office, near Saffron Walden.

Taking place during the height of the summer heatwave, the visit proved to be a warm one in every sense, but spirits remained high throughout. Despite the challenging temperatures, the group had a great time exploring the work that goes into crop variety development and gaining a valuable behind-the-scenes look at the science, testing and expertise that support future supply chains.

The afternoon began with an introduction to RAGT and its role in developing new crop varieties for agriculture and industry and its recent acquisition of Syngenta. Guests then had the opportunity to view RAGT’s demo field, including existing varieties, new varieties in development, cover crop trials and agricultural practice work.

For those working across the brewing, food and beverage supply chain, the visit offered a useful reminder of how much work takes place long before raw materials reach production. From breeding and early-stage quality testing through to field trials and agronomic performance, attendees were able to see first-hand how variety development contributes to consistency, quality and resilience across the wider sector.

The visit also included a tour of the breeding station, giving guests further insight into the role of the breeder and the technical process behind identifying, testing and developing future crop varieties. The discussions throughout the afternoon helped connect agricultural innovation with the needs of brewers, beverage producers and the wider supply chain.

As always, the event also provided an excellent opportunity for informal networking, with members from across BFBi a chance to catch up. BFBi would like to thank RAGT for hosting the visit and for providing such an informative and engaging afternoon, particularly in such hot conditions. Thanks also go to everyone who attended and helped make the event such an enjoyable success.