The Farmers Mart Aug/Sep 2013 - Issue 29 | Page 12

INDUSTRY NEWS

£160 million technology boost for UK agricultural industries
The UK could become a world leader in agricultural science and technology following the launch of a new government strategy to deliver sustainable, healthy and affordable food for future generations. Breakthroughs in nutrition, informatics, satellite imaging, remote sensing, meteorology and precision farming mean the agriculture sector is one of the world’s fastest growing sectors. Developed in partnership with industry, the Agricultural Technologies Strategy includes a £160 million government investment in developing technologies that will “transform farming in the UK as productively as possible while reducing environmental impact and resource use.” The strategy also aims to make the UK a world leader in addressing global food security issues. The entire UK agri-food supply chain, from agriculture to final retailing and catering, is estimated to contribute £96 billion to the economy and employs 3.8 million people. The Strategy’s key actions, include: *a £90 million government investment in world class Centres for Agricultural Innovation with additional investment from industry. This includes up to £10 million for a Centre for Agricultural Informatics and Metrics of Sustainability which will use data from farms, laboratories and retailers to drive innovation *creating a £70 million Agri-Tech Catalyst to help new agricultural technologies bridge the so called ‘valley of death’ between the lab and the marketplace. Co-funded with industry, the catalyst will specifically support small and medium sized enterprises. The investment includes £10 million to support the transfer of technology and new products to developing countries *the creation of an industry Leadership Council to unify the agriculture technology sector and make the UK more internationally competitive *the recruitment of a new UKTI agri-tech team to boost exports and overseas investment in the UK’s

Will more advances in technology change the face of rural Britain?

agricultural technologies The government also announced £30 million for four agri-science research and innovation campuses by Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, a multi-million pound scientific research partnership between Rothamsted and Syngenta to increase wheat productivity; and a new Leadership Council bringing together representatives from food and farming production, industry, science and research, and government. But the Campaign for Rural England (CPRE) cautioned that the Government’s new Agri-Tech Strategy needs to avoid the mistakes of the past when it comes to introducing new agricultural technology to increase food production. CPRE said that previously, new technologies have had serious consequences for the countryside’s wildlife and landscape features such as hedgerows. Ian Woodhurst, CPRE’s Senior Food and Farming Campaigner said: “We’ve found out bigger is not always better, and so we need to avoid new technology driving us into a mega-farm cul-desac, where only t hose who can afford to use new technologies dominate food production . We need a diverse agricultural and food sector so that new entrants to farming can get into the industry, and local food producers and farms

of all sizes can introduce innovative ways of producing our food without damaging the character of our landscapes and wildlife.” CPRE’s Vision for Farming set out its aspiration for centres of agricultural excellence and innovation developing new technology and farming practices that produce the food we need without damaging the environment. In some cases, it says, significant environmental gains could be made just by using existing technology more widely, for example methods of growing crops using lower quantities of agri-chemicals. CPRE would also like more action to prevent huge quantities of food being wasted, alongside research and investment into new agricultural technology to produce more food. Ian Woodhurst concluded: “Even small, inexpensive technological innovations] can make a big difference when it comes to boosting farmers’ yields and profits while at the same time protecting our soil, water, wildlife habitats and landscape features. The strategy shouldn’t end up losing sight of the need to develop innovative technology and farming practices for farms of all sizes. It’s in this way that we can have high quality, healthy and affordable food produced where’s it needed, in environmentally sustainable ways.”

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Aug/Sep 2013 FarmersMart

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