Farmers, sprayer operators and agronomy professionals visiting Cereals 2026 will be able to see the latest crop protection technology in action in the Syngenta & CropLife Sprays & Sprayers Arena – as well as see one farmer being crowned the sprayer operator of the year.
Once again, the Arena will provide a live, practical showcase of modern spraying technology, with demonstrations from leading sprayer manufacturers and precision agriculture innovators when Cereals arrives at Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm on June 10 & 11.
Visitors will be able to see self-propelled and trailed machines working in the field alongside the latest drones, compare models’ side by side, and speak directly to technical specialists about everything from nozzle choice to software integration.
As the pressure grows to improve application accuracy, protect water, reduce waste and make every pass count, the Syngenta & CropLife Sprays & Sprayers Arena will give growers a valuable opportunity to explore how the latest technology can support more efficient and responsible crop protection as we look to the future of farming.
The feature will highlight advances in precision application, operator control, data capture, product handling and sprayer performance, helping visitors understand how equipment choice and best practice can influence productivity, compliance and environmental outcomes.
Diddly Squat agronomist and Ceres Rural founder, Charlie Ireland, said: “Events like Cereals help farmers make informed decisions that improve productivity, profitability, and sustainability and the Sprays and Sprayer Arena is a key part of that.
“Farmers are operating in one of the most challenging environments we’ve seen in decades and finding new efficiencies, particularly around inputs and fuel, is absolutely essential. Farming is constantly evolving and Cereals helps to showcase the latest thinking and ensures farmers aren’t left behind.”
A key highlight in the arena will be the crowning of the Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year with the winner of the prestigious title winning an all-expenses paid trip to Agritechnica 2027 in Hanover, Germany.
Syngenta is sponsoring the arena and the award and has been involved in the event for more than 30 years. Syngenta’s application technology expert, Harry Fordham, says: “We’ve been
sponsoring the Spray & Sprayers Arena for decades and it’s a hugely important event for us. We want to take the lead in the crop protection industry and this ensures we can work with farmers and manufacturers and help shape the future of the industry.
“How you apply our products directly affects what a product does in that field and this is why it’s so important for us to be able to connect with the industry, share best practice and celebrate and promote sprayer operators with the award too.”
Alongside the live machinery demonstrations, visitors will be able to meet service and product suppliers around the Syngenta & CropLife Sprays & Sprayers Arena exhibition area as well as join presentations delivered by Syngenta, CropLife and other key innovators.
The Arena is designed to help visitors ask detailed questions, compare different approaches and gain practical insight that can be taken back to farm. Topics are expected to include nozzle selection, application efficiency, sprayer set-up, digital integration, precision spraying and responsible product use.
With crop protection under increasing scrutiny and growers looking to maximise output from every input, the Syngenta & CropLife Sprays & Sprayers Arena will be a must-visit feature for anyone involved in arable production, spraying operations or agronomy advice.
Dave Bench, Chief Executive of CropLife UK, said: “We’re delighted to be co-sponsoring the Sprays and Sprayers Arena this year. Cereals is the leading event for UK broad acre agriculture. This is the first year CropLife UK has sponsored Cereals, as UK growers face an unpredictable future, we will be on hand to provide guidance on how regulatory changes and the consequent effect on our members’ activities may impact growers in the coming months.
“With UK agricultural policy facing some of its biggest changes since Brexit, events like Cereals are more important than ever. They provide a vital platform to demonstrate that the UK remains a world leader in crop protection R&D.
“We’re proud to showcase the strength of British innovation and to highlight how a science-led, and proportionate regulatory approach can support farmers in producing safe, sustainable and affordable food.”
Drone Technology
The advancements in drone technology means that agricultural spraying drones are becoming a key feature of the arena, enabling farmers to understand how they can benefit their operation.
At this year’s event, farmers will be able to see the latest technology in action and speak to the drone experts, as well as see the latest launches.
Crop Angel will be demonstrating their T50 model and will also have a bigger model on stand. Director Chris Eglington says drones are becoming a valuable tool in farming and
explains: “Cereals is the premier show and it allows us to demonstrate the benefits of drones and why they are the only way to do some applications safely and efficiently.
“Most of our sales are being used for spreading cover and companion crops over existing crops but there are a number of benefits. Not only do drones not cause any wheel marks or soil damage, but they can safely cover any terrain that may be dangerous to travel over in traditional machines.”
The Bionic Eye is launching a new heavy-duty, agricultural drone from ABZ Innovation at Cereals this year. The new L50 has a 50-litre tank, coverage of up to 24 hectares per hour, and comes with a LiDAR system that enables real-time 3D terrain following and obstacle avoidance.
Managing director of The Bionic Eye, Andrew Eio, says the platform can reduce water use by up to 90% and chemical use by up to 50%. He adds: “UK agriculture is at a genuine inflection point. Input costs are rising, labour is harder to find, and growers need tools that perform reliably in real UK field conditions.
“The ABZ Innovation L50 is the most capable European-built spraying drone available, and Cereals 2026 is exactly the right place to introduce it.”
Auto Spray Systems will also be on site and chief executive, Rob Pearson says: “Agri Drones are making a positive impact in farming right now.
“Today, over 50 contractors across the country have brought the big XAG P100 Pro drone into their spray sheds and more are joining every month. Come over to Stand 920 on the corner of the Syngenta Spray Arena to find out what makes XAG the UK’s No.1 choice for contractors.”
