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Key developments in science and technology in agriculture.

 

UK agri-tech project to be shown at COP26

Farming UK

1 November 2021

Cutting-edge robotics and AI technology which is influencing the future of sustainable food production will be shown at the COP26 climate summit.

The event takes place in Glasgow for two weeks, bringing together nations in accelerating action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

With an estimated 37% of the world’s greenhouse gasses being produced by the agri-food industry, the government has selected the University of Lincoln to share its promising agri-tech research.

‘Haphazard’ ELM scheme roll-out puts farms at risk, say MPs

Farmers Weekly

28 October 2021

Farmers in England are at risk of being forced out of business under a “haphazard” transition from the old Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme, a cross-party committee of MPs has warned.

In its latest report, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) select committee calls on the government to fully assess the impact that “the biggest change to agricultural policy in 70 years” will have on farm businesses.

Gene-editing could boost heat tolerance in livestock

Farming UK

27 October 2021

Gene-editing could contribute to the climate resilience of livestock in hot climates, UK scientists have said.

Researchers at the Rosilin Institute have developed a gene-editing technique that could improve heat tolerance in cattle.

Their approach reproduces a naturally occurring genetic change that cattle can pass on to their offspring through natural breeding.

UK-first sustainable farming school launched

Farming UK

24 October 2021

A UK-first school seeking to help farmers adopt regenerative methods of agriculture has launched at Harper Adams University. The School of Sustainable Food and Farming is the first of its type in the UK, with courses covering livestock, soil health and biodiversity.

In the UK, agricultural production is currently responsible for 10 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions. Harper Adams University says the school will play a part in realising the government’s new ‘green’ agriculture policy, unveiled in November last year.

Government unveils new strategy to achieve net zero by 2050

Farming UK

20 October 2021

A new plan has been set out by the government to help the UK reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, including funding to help farmers decarbonise. The government on Tuesday (19 October) published its long-awaited strategy for reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

New support will help achieve low-carbon farming and agricultural innovation through the Farming Investment Fund and the Farming Innovation Programme. The government said these schemes would help farmers invest in equipment, technology, and infrastructure to improve profitability and support emissions reductions. And £625m will be made available to support farmers and landowners to plant 30,000 hectares of new trees per year by 2024, along with peatland restoration targets.

Farmers unsure of agri-tech's role in net zero, survey says

Farming UK

20 October 2021

A majority of farmers are doubtful of agri-tech's ability to help them meet net zero goals despite most farmers using it, a UK-wide survey has revealed. The Agri-EPI research sought to understand why farmers are using agri-tech, shed light on barriers to its use and explore the tech they think will be needed in the future.

Agri-EPI centre’s chief executive, David Ross said: “We are struck by the fact that only around a third felt tech has a role to play in environmental sustainability. Technology is one of the solutions to helping farmers reduce their emissions – agri-tech that helps farmers be more efficient and productive usually offers a win-win for sustainability.”

£17.5m innovation fund available to farmers and growers

Farmers Weekly

14 October 2021

Farmers and growers with ideas that could directly benefit the agriculture and horticulture sectors in England can bid for a share in a £17.5m pot of funding.

Defra’s new Research and Development Partnerships Fund has been ring-fenced for initiatives that increase farm productivity and environmental sustainability.

As the first initiative to be announced in the new Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), this fund aims to support “game-changer’’ farming and forestry ideas – ones that will solve issues that are holding the sector back.

Food industry must become more resilient, says sector council

Farmers Guardian

13 October 2021

Britain’s food industry needs to raise its productivity and sustainability by investing in skills and becoming more resilient to shocks. It also needs to work to supply sustainable and healthy food, and for high standards of food production and integrity of raw materials to be supported.

Those are among the key recommendations of the Food and Drink Sector Council (FDSC) in its report ‘Feeding the Future: working together to build the National Food Strategy’. Its ideas will contribute to the Government’s new National Food Strategy, which is due to be published early in 2022.

British-built rockets and gene-edited meat: Minister reveals vision to make UK 'science superpower'

Sky News

11 October 2021

The UK must become a "science superpower" where British-built rockets will launch British-built satellites running everything from cybersecurity to delivering pizza, the new science minister George Freeman has told Sky News.

Mr Freeman says he wants to put the days of Britain as a "science leader but innovation laggard" behind us, arguing UK consumers are ready to embrace new products like gene-edited meat that will improve animal welfare and tackle the climate crisis.

Prince Charles calls for meat consumption cut ahead of COP26

Farmers Weekly

11 October 2021

Prince Charles has urged the public to eat less dairy, meat and fish to help cut greenhouse gas emissions from farming ahead of a global summit on climate change.

Speaking to the BBC, the prince revealed that he regularly abstains from eating meat and dairy products on environmental grounds.

“For years, I haven’t eaten meat and fish on two days a week. And I don’t eat dairy products on Monday,” Prince Charles said. “If you all did that you would reduce a lot of the pressure on the environment and everything else,” he added.

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