Dr Sophie Parker-Norman is head of R&D and Technical for the Volac Animal Nutrition business and is accountable for both innovation and technical commercial development across the global Volac portfolio. Sophie previously worked in international roles in the ruminant and monogastric feed additive sectors. Prior to joining the feed industry, Sophie’s academic career was at Aberystwyth University, where she was focused on Dairy Science and obtained her Ph. D. in ‘Immunoepidemiology of Mastitis in Dairy Cattle’. Following a post doctoral position, Sophie found herself in the feed industry in technical roles – a move which she largely attributes to having a ‘foot in both camps’ of both the science and the application. Sophie started her career working on dairy farms and is still closely involved in the farming community today. For this reason, she is committed to developing nutritional solutions to drive forward efficiency, and ultimately sustainability, of ruminant production.

Involved in in several research projects, mainly focused in rumen metabolism and microbiology. Responsible of the Department’s laboratory of G.I. tract microbiology and feedstuff chemical analysis for animal nutrition. Became associate professor in October 2021. He had published 42 scientific papers (plus 4 under review).

Experienced Ruminant Nutritionist having worked in both farm nutrition and technical scientific roles in over 25 years in the UK and European feed industry Previously to that studied Animal Science and a PhD in sheep fatty acid metabolism at the University of Nottingham. From a farming background in North Wales Currently Senior Ruminant Technical manager for Adisseo for Europe and CIS with the responsibility to support and develop amino acid nutrition of dairy cows and other ruminants

Dr James McCaughern- James is a sheep farmer from Northern Ireland, and a Lecturer in Beef Production Systems at Harper Adams University, Shropshire. His research interests involve dairy and beef cattle, with a focus on feed efficiency, trace element nutrition, and metabolomics. James will be presenting work regarding the practical application of nutrition to improve sustainability within the beef production systems at the Harper Adams University Future Farm.