The Scottish Farmer reports that a new parliamentary report warns the UK could lose up to 32% of its food output by 2050 unless urgent reforms are made to farming and land-use policy. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture (APPGSTA) found that competing land demands—such as housing, rewilding, tree-planting and solar projects—could remove 25% of farmed land, much of it prime arable. The group urges adoption of its “30:50:50 mission” to produce 30% more food with 50% less environmental impact, plus a statutory 75% self-sufficiency target. Chair George Freeman MP warns that fragmented policies and weak translation of innovation into practice threaten food security amid global instability.

Farmers Weekly reports that a new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture calls for a radical reset of UK food production policy to improve food self-sufficiency and cut environmental impact. It warns that without reform, the UK could lose up to 23% of farmland and 32% of output by 2050, increasing reliance on imports. The report advocates a statutory 75% food self-sufficiency target, protection of high-yield farmland, and greater use of new farming technologies. It criticises fragmented policies, and urges a unified strategy focused on “producing more from less” through innovation and productivity improvement.

Farmers Guardian reports that farming groups from 11 countries, including the UK, have urged the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change to reform emissions accounting. They argue the current GWP100 method exaggerates agriculture’s climate impact by equating short-lived methane with long-lived gases like CO₂. Instead, they advocate a split-gas approach that distinguishes between gas lifespans to more accurately reflect warming effects. NFU leaders Tom Bradshaw and David Barton said better measurement will drive fair policy, science-based mitigation, and food security.

Pig World reports that scientists at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh have successfully gene-edited pigs with resistance to classical swine fever (CSF), a deadly viral disease that devastates livestock. The researchers made a targeted change to a gene responsible for producing a protein called DNAJC14, which allowed them to block the virus from reproducing in pig cells. Gene-edited pigs exposed to CSF remained healthy, unlike unedited ones. According to the scientists involved, the breakthrough demonstrates the growing potential of gene editing to enhance global animal health and agricultural sustainability by strengthening resilience against future livestock disease outbreaks.

Farming UK reports that researchers at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) have developed ‘farm-twin’, the world’s first digital twin for dairy farming. Built at SRUC’s Dairy Research Centre, the open-source platform integrates real-time data from sensors, telemetry, and digital tools into a unified system that models entire farm operations. Using AI and predictive analytics, it identifies early signs of health or productivity issues, automates responses like isolating sick cows, and enables farmers to test strategies virtually.

Farming UK reports that extreme weather linked to climate change is driving up the price of everyday foods like beef, milk, butter, coffee, and chocolate. According to the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU). Prices for these staples rose by an average of 15.6%—over four times faster than other foods—adding around £360 to the average UK household food bill. Droughts, heatwaves, and livestock disease outbreaks have disrupted supply chains, while the UK’s dependence on food imports heightens vulnerability. Experts warn that monetary policy cannot offset these climate-driven pressures, urging government action to strengthen food security and accelerate emissions reductions.

Farming UK reports that a new survey of 211 UK wheat farmers commissioned by biostimulant start-up SugarOx reveals strong awareness but low confidence in biostimulants, with only 44% having tried them. While 95% cite weather variability as their biggest challenge, scepticism over cost-effectiveness and inconsistent results hampers adoption. Farmers associate biostimulants with better nutrient uptake, root growth, and stress tolerance but want clearer proof and guidance. Experts argue that clear regulation, combined with independent trials data, are needed to establish biostimulants as a mainstream tool in British crop production.

Science Daily reports that researchers at the University of Maryland discovered that the gene WUS-D1 is responsible for a rare wheat mutation that forms three ovaries per flower instead of one, potentially boosting grain yield. Published in PNAS, the study showed that activating WUS-D1 early in flower development enlarges floral tissue and creates extra female structures. This breakthrough could enable breeders to develop higher-yield wheat varieties using gene-editing tools.

Farming UK reports that Britain must urgently overhaul how it produces and consumes food to prevent worsening crises in health, climate, and food security, according to a new report. The Roadmap for Resilience: A UK Food Plan for 2050, developed by the Agri-Food for Net Zero (AFN) Network+ with input from 150 experts, calls for reforms on a scale unseen since World War II. It identifies three priorities - stronger farming systems, smarter land use, and healthier diets - to protect public health, reduce emissions, and strengthen resilience. The report proposes ten government actions, including elevating food security, reforming subsidies, setting dietary targets, and restoring nature to secure a sustainable food future.

Farmers Weekly reports that Defra minister Dame Angela Eagle has confirmed the badger cull will end after the 2025 season, signalling a shift in England’s bovine TB strategy. No new licences will be issued, with only one remaining cull in Cumbria under review. At its peak, 73 licences operated. Labour plans to unveil a new TB eradication strategy for 2026, aiming for England to be TB-free by 2038. The new policy will prioritise cattle testing, biosecurity, movement controls, and expanded badger vaccination, with over 4,000 already vaccinated. Opposition MPs warned against ending culling prematurely before other proven tools are ready, while campaigners welcomed the government’s science-led, humane approach.