Research with the potential to shape the future of animal welfare, sport, agriculture, equine performance, environmental sustainability and community wellbeing was showcased at the Hartpury Research Conference 2026 on 9 July.
Held in the University's new Learning Hub, the conference welcomed around 150 researchers, students, industry professionals and external partners under the theme 'From Insight to Impact: Participation, Partnership and Practice', highlighting how collaborative research is delivering practical solutions to real-world challenges.
Opening the conference, Dr Wahbi El-Bouri (Associate Professor at the University of Liverpool) delivered a keynote exploring how digital twin technology, already transforming industries such as aerospace through virtual modelling of jet engines, could revolutionise human and animal healthcare by enabling more personalised diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. Drawing on applications across medicine and equine health, the keynote demonstrated the growing role of advanced digital technologies in improving health outcomes.
Professor Stephen Draper, Pro Vice Chancellor (Education, Research and Knowledge Exchange), said:"Our research is driven by a desire to solve real-world challenges through collaboration with industry, communities and partners. This conference demonstrates the breadth and quality of research taking place across Hartpury, bringing together expertise from multiple disciplines to generate knowledge that delivers meaningful impact in practice. It was fantastic to welcome so many delegates to our new University Learning Hub to celebrate that work and spark new ideas and partnerships."
A spotlight session led by Ismail Kholwadia (Founder of Unreflected Reflections and The Ruh Collective) and Dr Linda Greening (Head of Inclusivity) explored Reflective Futures, a community-led project using participatory research to better understand health and wellbeing among Muslims living in rural Gloucestershire. The work demonstrated the importance of involving communities directly in research to improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities.
Across three themed research streams, Performance, Environment and Wellbeing, delegates heard about a diverse range of studies addressing contemporary issues.
Research in the Performance stream included investigations into how body protectors influence rider biomechanics and comfort, factors contributing to success in Arabian horse racing in the United Arab Emirates, and the experiences of elite female rugby players living with stress urinary incontinence. Researchers also presented work on coaching practice, equine biomechanics, horse welfare, osteopathic assessment and innovative approaches to evaluating community physical activity programmes.
The Environment sessions highlighted research supporting more sustainable agriculture and conservation. Presentations explored the spread of Campylobacter in poultry, machine learning to monitor plant health, embedded sensing systems for soil monitoring, wildlife conservation, the ecological and economic implications of beaver reintroductions, behavioural assessment of equine sleep, neurodiversity within veterinary practice and the wellbeing benefits of visits to zoological collections.
Research presented within the Wellbeing stream examined topics including emotional eating in female athletes, healthy weight management in horses and ponies, equestrian riders' knowledge of GLP-1 weight loss medications, nutrition for threatened European vulture species, technology adoption in pig farming, owner perceptions of Chihuahua health, assistance dog training and ways horse owners promote positive welfare for their animals.
The conference concluded with a keynote from Roly Owers (CEO of World Horse Welfare), who examined how scientific evidence, professional expertise and collaborative partnerships are helping to advance equine welfare across the sector.
Delegates also celebrated the successful completion of doctoral research by Aisling Carroll (Senior Lecturer), Andrew Hearn (Lecturer and Researcher) and Wing Ng (PhD student), recognising contributions spanning dairy cattle health, female football performance and precision agriculture.
Throughout the day, delegates viewed research posters from students and staff, providing further opportunities to discuss emerging projects and develop new collaborations.
The event also showcased Hartpury's recently opened University Learning Hub, with many attendees praising the new facilities and collaborative spaces, which provided an ideal setting for exchanging ideas and strengthening partnerships between academia and industry.
The annual Hartpury Research Conference forms an important part of the University's commitment to delivering applied research that informs policy, improves professional practice and creates positive impact across the specialist sectors it serves.
