An event aiming to bring businesses together to discuss novel solutions to protecting Wales’ young trees and water bodies from farm animals will take place in Newport tomorrow (December 18).

The briefing session will highlight a competition taking place that is seeking novel insights from businesses into how alternatives to fencing could provide a solution to the problems caused by agricultural activities.

It comes as evidence shows that 16 per cent of Wales’ water bodies fail to reach ‘Good Status’ because of pollution from agriculture activities, including river bank erosion and poor slurry management.

Traditional fencing of river banks can prevent livestock access and erosion - both of which increase the risk of pollution entering the watercourse - but fencing can be expensive, has a short life span and in some parts of Wales cannot be used for legal reasons.

Natural Resources Wales has been awarded funding of £160,000 for the £191,000 project through the Welsh Government’s £3m Small Business Research Initiative Catalyst Programme, which drives innovation by connecting Welsh businesses with public sector organisations that are seeking solutions to specific challenges.

The funding will enable Natural Resources Wales to test the ideas and technologies through first-stage feasibility studies. For those businesses successful in winning feasibility study contracts, there will be an opportunity to later bid for demonstrator stage funding to develop a proof of concept for the marketplace.

The briefing event will be held tomorrow from 10am – 12.30pm at the Holiday Inn, Coldra, Newport, during which potential applicants can find out more about the competition. Anyone wishing to attend should email richard.hancox@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk. The final deadline for bid submissions is January 6, 2014.

Emyr Roberts, chief executive of Natural Resources Wales, said: “We recognise that traditional fencing can be an expensive and short-term answer to the problem and we need to develop a cheaper, more sustainable solution to protecting water courses and trees from grazing animals.

“We are pleased to have received this grant and look forward to exploring new ideas with the private sector which will help to benefit the environment and local communities.”

Edwina Hart, Minister for Economy, said: “The aim of the Small Business Research Initiative Innovation Catalyst Programme is to drive participation in SBRI competitions by the public sector and businesses in Wales.

“Wales is home to thousands of innovative businesses that are working on pioneering projects which could be used to combat national challenges facing Wales. The challenge is to ensure these businesses are given the opportunity to showcase their ideas to public sector organisations.

“As this project shows, the Programme is driving innovation in public services and offering opportunities for innovative businesses to win contracts to help grow the Welsh R&D industry.”