Few are better placed to influence this debate than Lord Anthony Bamford, chair of JCB, a global engineering powerhouse and one of the strongest voices advocating for the decarbonisation of heavy-duty machinery. His message is clear: the future of farming could be fuelled by hydrogen, and the technologies that will shape this transition are rapidly advancing. 

It’s exactly this kind of forward-looking innovation that makes Low Carbon Agriculture, returning on 14-15 January 2026 at the NEC Birmingham, the essential event for farmers, landowners, contractors and agri-professionals striving to reduce emissions while maintaining productivity. 

Hydrogen: A practical pathway to low-carbon farming 

For decades, JCB has been at the forefront of engineering innovation, and its latest focus, the development of hydrogen combustion engines, could transform the way British farms operate. 

Lord Bamford’s belief is rooted in practicality. Heavy agricultural machinery needs long operating hours, high torque and fast refuelling, requirements that battery technology simply cannot meet for large-scale farm kit. Hydrogen combustion, however, offers: 

• Zero carbon emissions at the point of use 

• Minimal changes to machine design, thanks to the retention of conventional engine architecture 

• Refuelling times of just 3–5 minutes 

• Compatibility with on-farm fuel storage practices 

• The potential for farm-generated hydrogen via electrolysis, creating local energy security 

More than 130 hydrogen engines have already been built, powering loaders, trucks and telehandlers, showing that hydrogen-ready machinery is more than a vision, it’s becoming a commercial reality. 

This shift isn’t about tearing apart existing systems. As Bamford puts it: 
“The machine is completely functional if we change its power source.” 
Retrofitting existing machinery could dramatically speed up decarbonisation, reduce waste, and curb the resource demands of manufacturing entirely new vehicles. 

Why Low Carbon Agriculture is the place to learn more 

The momentum behind alternative fuels, hydrogen, biomethane, HVO, electrification where viable, is building fast. But for farmers, the question remains: Which technology is right for my business? 

Low Carbon Agriculture 2026 is designed to answer exactly that. 

Across its focused exhibition and leading conference theatre, visitors will gain access to: 

1. Future fuels for farming - Explore hydrogen engines, alternative fuels, energy storage solutions, on-farm production opportunities and the realities of transitioning away from red diesel. 

2. Exclusive insight from industry leaders - Hear directly from innovators shaping the low-carbon future, including experts in hydrogen combustion, renewable energy generation, low-emission vehicles and sustainable farm systems. 

3. Practical pathways to Net Zero - With the UK’s agricultural sector playing a crucial role in national emissions targets, the show provides much-needed clarity on the policy landscape, investment opportunities and real-world case studies. 

4. Realistic solutions for real farms - From retrofitting machinery to decentralised energy systems, the show focuses not on theoretical ideas but what can be deployed now to improve efficiency, resilience and environmental performance. 

Hydrogen: A British solution to a global challenge 

Lord Bamford has long championed British engineering and British farming. His commitment to hydrogen represents a powerful alignment of both sectors: practical engineering meeting the realities of modern agriculture. 

Emerging research into naturally occurring underground hydrogen reserves, alongside hydrogen produced as a byproduct from other industrial processes, points to future abundance and cost reductions. The potential is significant: a clean, scalable, farm-compatible fuel that supports the industry’s heavy power demands. 

As Bamford says: “If you want to reduce fossil fuels, there is a proper solution to emissions, and it is there, and it is not costly.” 

Join the conversation at the NEC: 14-15 January 2026 

Whether you’re exploring hydrogen for the first time, considering on-farm energy generation, or looking for the smartest route to low-carbon farming, Low Carbon Agriculture 2026 is the UK’s leading platform to navigate the future of fuel. 

Be part of the conversation. See the technologies shaping the next generation of British farming.