On behalf of the All-Party Group, George Freeman MP has responded to the EFRA Committee’s call for suggestions of topics for future inquiries, proposing that the Committee should consider hosting an inquiry into the issue of sustainability metrics and the collection and use of environmental data in UK agriculture.

The letter explains in some detail why this has long been a focus of interest for the All-Party Group, and expresses disappointment that the UK Agri-Tech Strategy missed the opportunity to embed farm-level data at the heart of policy-making, research and farm advisory activities.

It concludes that in line with the oft-quoted adage “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”, the importance of having a robust and consistent approach to the collection and use of farm-level data cannot be emphasised strongly enough, not only to help Defra measure and evaluate the impact of its own farm policies, but also to provide the insights needed to drive farm-level improvements in sustainable efficient production, and to provide meaningful information to consumers about the sustainability footprint of their food choices.

Mid-Norfolk MP George Freeman, the former science minister in the previous Government, was last night confirmed as the new chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture, at a packed meeting in Westminster which heard leading agri-food organisations set out their priorities for agricultural research and innovation to deliver for food security, nature and the climate.

Charlie Dewhirst MP, recently elected MP for Bridlington & The Wolds, and a former policy adviser at the National Pig Association, was also confirmed as a new vice-chair of the Group, alongside Lord Grantchester, a dairy farmer and former shadow EFRA minister, and veterinarian Professor Lord Trees, who continue as vice-chairs.

The APPG’s most recent biennial report, summarising the 2022-24 period up to the General Election, and including an introduction from NFU President Tom Bradshaw.

In line with the Group's interest to support the successful introduction of precision bred products, the All-Party Group has issued a policy paper dealing with the issue of farm-level co-existence of precision bred (PB) and non-PB crops. This is intended to feed into the dialogue process commissioned by Defra bringing different stakeholders together to discuss any industry-based measures needed to minimise unwanted mixing of genetic material or harvested crops destined for different market outlets, so maintaining the integrity of raw material supply chains.

The policy paper makes clear that farm-to-farm co-existence is not a new concept in British agriculture, and that any practical co-existence arrangements, eg between neighbouring PB and organic growers, should seek to build on existing examples of farmers and supply chains successfully managing co-existence to meet both statutory and commercial specifications, for example in the production of certified seed, the segregation of food grade and non-food crops, and the delivery of variety-specific consignments to meet customer demands.

The policy paper also examines the potential co-existence implications of eight case studies of early PB products in the pipeline likely to reach the market in England, in each case considering the reproductive biology of the crop species, the production system (eg indoor/outdoor), and the anticipated scale of cropping under organic/’non-PB’ production, to help determine the likelihood and extent of co-existence arrangements, including whether any such arrangements would be required at all.

Finally, the paper explores specific considerations for organic producers, including the widespread use of emergency derogations to plant non-organic seed instead of organically produced seed, and whether alternative arrangements and incentives are needed to support the development of a sustainable market for organically produced seed. It also examines the need for consequential amendments to UK organic regulations to include a definition for the new category of PBOs established by the Precision Breeding Act, to provide legal clarity, certainty and consistency.

A coalition of leading scientists, vets, farmers and breeders are calling on the Nuffield Council on Bioethics to revise and update its 2021 report on the ethics of genome editing in farmed animals, warning that excessive regulation of the technology could stifle major opportunities to improve animal health and welfare outcomes.

In a letter sent on behalf the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science & Technology in Agriculture, distinguished veterinarian Professor the Lord Trees and veteran farming champion Lord Curry of Kirkharle challenge the Nuffield report’s characterisation of the modern food production system as ‘morally indefensible and unsustainable’, citing evidence of significant and ongoing improvements in livestock breeding and welfare standards, driven by science.

They also warn of the report’s disproportionately negative impact on the political and public debate surrounding the use of genome editing in farmed animal breeding, and urge Nuffield to take greater account of the ethical implications of not embracing a technology with the potential to deliver solutions to previously intractable disease problems.

APPGSTA letter led by Professor Lord Trees and Lord Curry of Kirkharle urges the Nuffield Council on Bioethics to correct misleading and factually inaccurate information about UK livestock farming and genetics in its report on ‘Genome editing and farmed animal breeding: social and ethical issues’

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this consultation, which marks an important next step towards a more streamlined regulatory approval process for food and feed products developed using precision breeding techniques such as gene editing.

The All-Party Group first led the way in calling for new precision breeding techniques such as gene editing to be removed from the scope of restrictive GMO rules inherited from the EU. A milestone was reached in March this year with the passing into law of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act.

Properly implemented, the Act could pave the way for England to take a leading position in the research, development and commercialisation of precision bred products.

A prominent farming MP has called on Defra to publish a full impact assessment of its Environmental Land Management (ELM) and Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) policies, in the context of the government’s Food Strategy commitment to maintain national food production at current levels.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture has welcomed the progress made at today’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board meeting towards a more streamlined regulatory approval process for food and feed products developed using precision breeding techniques such as gene editing.

Full report

Gene editing of crops and livestock, methane inhibitors, green fertilisers and novel proteins such as insect meal are just some of the farming innovations that can help deliver Net Zero in UK agriculture, according to a new inquiry report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture.

Identifying eight key areas of innovation with the potential to transform UK agriculture’s climate impact, the report also highlights a number of potential and actual barriers to these innovations reaching Britain’s farmers, and makes recommendations for Government to remove these barriers, covering regulatory, policy and R&D actions.

Launching the report, APPG chair Julian Sturdy MP said the starting point for the inquiry, bringing together both written and oral evidence presented to the Group, was that climate change should be tackled by encouraging new green technologies and scientific innovations, rather than by imposing measures which might harm economic growth and living standards, and ultimately reduce domestic food production.

Welcoming today’s confirmation that Royal Assent has been granted to the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill to make it an Act of Parliament, Julian Sturdy MP, chair of the APPG on Science and Technology in Agriculture, said:

“The All-Party Group first led the way in calling for new precision breeding techniques such as gene editing to be removed from the scope of restrictive GMO rules we inherited from the EU. The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill successfully completed its passage through both Houses of Parliament and I welcome today’s confirmation that it has been signed into law.”

“This is an important milestone for genetic innovation in agriculture, opening up the potential for scientists and breeders to help farmers keep pace with demands for increased agricultural productivity and resource-use efficiency, reduced chemical use, and resilience to climate change.”

Open statement on animal welfare issues in relation to the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill, supported by a coalition of organisations and individuals across the scientific, veterinary, breeding, farming and input supply sectors.

Leading organisations and individuals across the scientific, breeding, farming, veterinary and input supply sectors have signed an open statement of support for the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill currently going through Parliament, and for the potential role of new breeding technologies such as gene editing in delivering more sustainable, high-welfare UK livestock research and production.

Joint briefing on the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill issued by the research institutes on the Norwich Research Park - John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory, Earlham Institute and Quadram Institute.

2020-22 Biennial Report of the APPG on Science and Technology in Agriculture covering a period in which the All-Party Group maintained a full programme of meetings throughout the lockdown period, leading the policy debate on issues such as post-Brexit regulation of genetic technologies, sustainable intensification and metrics, pro-innovation policies, and the need for a more joined up approach to funding crop genetic research and innovation.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture has launched an inquiry, including a three-month call for written evidence closing on 14 December 2022, into the technologies, innovations and practices which can help British agriculture deliver on the UK’s net zero commitments.

The starting point for the inquiry is that climate change should be tackled by encouraging new green technologies and scientific innovations, rather than measures which might harm economic growth and living standards.

Julian Sturdy MP, chair of the APPG on Science and Technology in Agriculture, has warmly welcomed yesterday’s announcement by Defra that the UK has become a signatory to the US-led Sustainable Productivity Growth Coalition (SPG), a global initiative which aims to use technology and innovation to improve agricultural productivity in an environmentally sustainable way.

Precision breeding technologies such as genome editing (GE) can help accelerate the development of major health and welfare boosting traits such as PRRS resistance in pigs and bird flu resistance in poultry, as well as sexing applications to avoid the need to cull male chicks or dairy calves, a cross-party group of MPs and Lords has heard.

As the world emerges from a global pandemic, amid mounting concerns over food security, and with global demand for meat protein set to double by 2050, leading figures spanning the entire livestock research and production chain - from the veterinary, genetic science, breeding and farming sectors - told the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture last month that it would be unethical not to embrace the potential of technologies such as gene editing to help improve sustainable, high-welfare production in farmed animals.

Briefing document prepared by Norwich Research Park asking MPs and Lords to support a Statutory Instrument (The Genetically Modified Organisms (Deliberate Release) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2022) to facilitate field trial research of gene edited crops.

Earlier this week, Julian Sturdy MP led a parliamentary debate calling for the government to support ‘sustainable intensification’ in British farming, to produce more food in the UK without damaging the environment.

FULL SPEECH - Julian Sturdy MP introduces a Westminster Hall debate on the subject of 'Sustainable Intensification and Metrics in Agriculture,' highlighting concerns raised during recent meetings of the Group about a shift away from science- and evidence-based policy-making within Defra, and towards an over-reliance on voluntary and campaigning NGOs to support the Government’s vision of sustainable agriculture.

BRIEFING - Julian Sturdy MP introduces a Westminster Hall debate on the subject of 'Sustainable Intensification and Metrics in Agriculture,' highlighting concerns raised during recent meetings of the Group about a shift away from science- and evidence-based policy-making within Defra, and towards an over-reliance on voluntary and campaigning NGOs to support the Government’s vision of sustainable agriculture.