Crops which have been genetically edited will be grown in farms across England under new laws to be announced by the Government. Tomatoes engineered to provide more vitamin D and sugar beet which requires less pesticide will be among the first plants with modified DNA.

Food Security Minister Daniel Zeichner said: “With these measures, our agriculture sector will be at the forefront of innovation across the world.”

The legislation will allow the use of gene editing to create crops designed to be more nutritious, resistant to pests and disease and able to cope with the effects of climate change.

A Shropshire-based company has shown it is possible to produce palatable protein products from broccoli stalks, which have until now mostly been discarded by farmers at harvesting.

In a joint project with the UK Agri-Tech Centre and the James Hutton Institute, Upcycled Plant Power (UPP) has produced protein on a pilot scale from the 70% or so of the broccoli plant that is currently not used.

It is also developing a broccoli harvester that collects this extra biomass for processing. UPP aims to sell the end product to food manufacturers to displace alternative proteins such as soya.

International Seed Federation members are calling for harmonised regulations on new breeding technologies such as genome editing to accelerate impactful innovation.

A survey by the International Seed Federation (ISF) has gathered insights from experts across seven regions.

Those surveyed called for the adoption of consistent global policies on plant breeding innovation, specifically on the use of new breeding technologies like genome editing.

A new five-year £3 million genetic research programme aims to advance the breeding of more sustainable and resilient varieties of soft fruit crops in the UK.

The Defra-funded Soft Fruit Genetic Improvement Network (GIN) aims to advance new biotechnology tools and generate significant genetic data and resources.

The results are set to help breeders introduce beneficial traits so crops can be grown more productively, with less environmental impact.

More than 50 industry representatives met this week to discuss how they can “reboot” the UK’s oilseeds sector after several challenging years and a significant fall in cropping area.

The UK oilseed rape crop had the smallest harvest area for 40 years this year. It has also suffered from low yields and disease pressure, which has driven more growers to move away.

Farmers, agronomists, traders, and breeders were encouraged to collaborate at the meeting in order to help bolster OSR production. A number of factors were discussed to improve the viability of the crop, from disease control to breeding developments and policy changes.

Researchers have won £3 million in Defra funding to aid the development of climate resilient legume crops that will be grown in the UK.

The Pulse Crop Genetic Improvement Network (PCGIN), which started in 2008, has received the funding boost for the next five years.

Funds will support researchers in delivering the mission to provide improved breeding material for the cultivation of peas, beans and other pulses in the UK.

Scientific and industry leaders are urging ministers in the new Labour government to act quickly and decisively in bringing forward the secondary legislation needed to implement the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 in England.

In an open letter addressed to ministers in the Departments for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), more than 50 leading organisations and individuals across the scientific, food processing, farming, breeding, veterinary and input supply sectors have welcomed the signing into law of the Precision Breeding Act in March 2023 as a significant milestone for sustainable innovation in food and agriculture but note that until detailed implementing rules are introduced at Westminster, this legislation serves no functional purpose.

New analysis suggests that Britain is heading for one of worst harvests on record, following record breaking rain last winter that has reduced yields.

This year’s harvest for key crops is set to be one of the worst three since detailed records began in 1983, just behind 2020 and 2001.

According to the analysis of government data, the total harvest is set to be down by over 13%, or three million tonnes, on the five-year average.

Europe needs to move faster in putting low carbon bread on the table, if it wants to meet its emission targets, according to one of the world’s largest crop nutrient producers.

Fertilisers, derived from fossil fuels and used to help produce wheat, account for nearly half of the emissions of a loaf, a figure that could easily be cut, said the head of Yara International, Svein Tore Holsether. However manufacturers needed financial help in a nascent area where profitability was hard to come by, he added.

Nitrogen-based crop nutrients that are key to plant growth are made from ammonia, which in turn is derived from mixing nitrogen from the air with hydrogen from fossil fuels such as natural gas or coal. Along with farm manure, fertilisers have been among the leading sources of the agricultural sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 5 per cent of the global total.

Two UK scientists have welcomed what they called a “positive response” from Defra minister Daniel Zeichner MP on implementing the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 in England. If implemented, the act will enable the development and marketing of gene-edited crops in England and is seen by many in the fresh produce industry as an important step towards modernising crop breeding.

In July, livestock scientist Professor Helen Sang and plant scientist Professor Tina Barsby wrote an open letter to Defra ministers calling for the new government to “act quickly and decisively” in bringing forward the secondary legislation needed to bring the act into force.

Zeichner responded: “Innovation is key in supporting our efforts to strengthen food security, enhance resilience and improve agricultural sustainability.” He added: “We are now considering how to take forward the regulatory framework outlined in the act and will share our plans with key interested parties soon.”