Objectives and structure for the workshop

Dr Ben SurridgeLancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University

PPM-nutrients workshop, Beijing, China, 25-26th February 2014

Aims for the next 1.5 days

1. To debate current and future research and policy challenges in the context of sustainable nutrient management in China and the UK.

2. To produce the structure and key messages for a jointly-authored position paper/commentary.

3. To introduce the PPM-nutrients project and to provide an opportunity to influence the direction and focus of this research project.

Structure for the next 1.5 days

Presentations this morning

To stimulate our thinking

Two discussion sessionsTo define the challenge

To identify key messages

Welcome dinner To continue the debate

Tuesday

Key challenges?

a. Future drivers of change in nutrient management– Changing profile of the farmer community?– Population demographics?– Diet?– Land governance?– Soil and water quality?– Resource availability?

b. The state of data and understanding surrounding nutrient cycles in agroecosystems

c. Designing and implementing appropriate policy and practice

Structure for the next 1.5 days

Feedback session

To produce the structure for an output

To assign writing tasks to individuals

PPM-Nutrients session

To introduce the PPM-nutrients project

To consider the direction of the project

Wednesday

“Technically, we know the solutions. It is a lack of political will that stands in the way” Professor Richard Ashley, University of Sheffield

“I’m really sorry we took the advice…..we thought we were dealing with experts” Minister, UK government