UK Agriculture Latest News
Major Upgrades to Farming Schemes (2024/02/09)
Major Upgrades to Farming Schemes (2024/01/16)
The UK government has announced significant upgrades to farming schemes, aimed at supporting British farmers, strengthening supply chains, and aligning with domestic food production and environmental protection commitments. Upgrades include increased agreement values, streamlined application processes, and enhanced payments for actions with significant environmental impacts. The revamped schemes are designed to be more accessible and flexible, encouraging broader participation from farmers of all sizes. Additionally, the government is investing heavily in farmer-led innovation and technology, committing over £168 million in grant funding in 2023 alone.
The UK DEFRA government announces a £2 billion investment in engineering biology (2023/12/05)
The UK government has announced a £2 billion investment in engineering biology to revolutionize the food and agriculture sectors. The plan focuses on sustainable food production and developing new crop varieties through engineering biology, a field that combines engineering principles with biological systems. This investment aims to spur economic growth, create high-paying jobs, and improve the overall quality of life in the UK. The government is committed to supporting this critical technology and maintaining the UK’s global leadership in responsible and innovative engineering biology.
UK Unveils New Funding to Bolster Plant Health and Biosecurity (2023/11/07)
The UK has launched a new grant funding initiative to enhance plant biosecurity and protect the country’s plant-based resources against plant pests and diseases. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), in conjunction with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), announced the availability of up to £800,000 for businesses working in technological innovation within critical sectors such as horticulture, forestry, and agricultural production. The funding is mainly targeted at developing cutting-edge technologies and practices to enhance plant health inspections at the country’s borders and improve pest and disease surveillance.
Enhance Access To Plant Protection Products (2024/10/28)
The UK government has confirmed that farmers and growers will continue to have access to important pesticides. Seeds treated with EU-approved pesticides can still be purchased and used. Temporary measures will allow the use of seeds treated with plant protection products authorized in the EU for an additional 3.5 years. The government is encouraging farmers to adopt integrated pest management approaches and is supporting this through the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme. The import of treated seeds will be restricted to products authorized in one or more EU countries.
Defra Commits to Reducing Methane Emissions from Livestock (2023/10/27)
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced plans to reduce methane emissions in livestock by encouraging the use of methane-suppressing feed products in England. These products are expected to become available by 2025, and Defra will support their adoption through various schemes. The initiative aligns with the UK’s Net Zero Growth Plan. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector, which accounted for 10% of the UK’s total emissions in 2019, with methane emissions from ruminant livestock being significant contributors.
UK Government Invests £75 Million in Regional Innovation Hubs (2023/10/24)
The UK Science Minister has announced a £75 million investment in regional innovation hubs to boost local economies and pioneer solutions in sectors ranging from healthcare to net zero emissions. The program will roll out eight additional Launchpads across every nation of the UK, building on existing clusters of high-tech innovation. Each Launchpad will receive up to £7.5 million in bespoke funding from Innovate UK to drive innovation, expand operations, and boost local economies.
UK Government Allocates £12.5M for Robotics & Automation (2023/10/02)
The UK government has invested £12.5 million in 19 agricultural automation and robotic technology projects as part of Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme. The projects aim to boost productivity, food security, and sustainable farming practices. Various applications will be covered, including a system to predict and enhance the quality of strawberry yields, a navigation system for field-based robotic vehicles, and drones and sensors to monitor vineyards digitally. The funding is expected to help the UK meet its commitment to produce at least 60% of domestically consumed food.
UK Gov Responds to ICAI Recommendations on Aid to Agriculture (2023/08/18)
The UK government has responded to ICAI’s review on UK aid to agriculture in the context of climate change. The government has agreed with all of ICAI’s recommendations and is taking steps to implement them. The focus will be on improving global food security and nutrition by enhancing climate-sensitive agriculture. The UK aims to lead the way in sustainable agricultural practices by investing in research, evidence, and technical expertise to address global food and climate challenges.
£14 Million Innovation Boost Announced by DEFRA (2023/08/07)
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has allocated over £14 million for two research competitions under the Farming Innovation Programme. The aim is to enhance productivity, promote sustainable practices, and achieve net-zero targets. The competitions foster collaboration between various stakeholders in the agricultural sector. Defra has also released guidelines for the third round of the Small R&D Partnerships competition. This competition is worth nearly £10 million and is geared towards aiding businesses in developing and commercializing new farming products or services.
DEFRA Releases Findings from Farming Tests and Trials (2023/08/06)
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has published a report detailing innovative solutions in farming. The report covers six themes, including land management plans, spatial prioritization, collaboration, payments, and innovative delivery mechanisms. Participants used various tools to keep land management plans current, preferred one-on-one advice, and found maps effective in identifying local priorities. The report aims to inform the design of future schemes for agriculture and farmers.
To read the rest of the DEFRA report, click here.
UK Supports Food Security in Nigeria (2023/08/01)
The UK has pledged to support Nigeria’s agriculture sector by providing funding to enhance its productivity and resilience to climate change. The funding will also help in removing some agricultural trade barriers to UK imports, potentially growing the UK’s economy. The UK has announced several financial commitments, including a £10 Million Facility in Lagos, a £55 Million Propcom+ Contract, and a £2.89 Million Grant to support sustainable agricultural practices. The funding aims to alleviate Nigeria’s food insecurity crisis and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
UK Government Unveils National Program to Fight Climate Change (2023/07/18)
The UK government has launched the third National Adaptation Program (NAP3) to combat climate change risks. The five-year plan aims to ensure resilience across various sectors and protect people, homes, businesses, and cultural heritage from floods, droughts, and heat waves. The plan includes a commitment to triple adaptation funding to £1.5 billion by 2025, with a dedicated response to overseas climate risks. The NAP3 introduces a Local Authority Climate Service and a Climate Resilience Board to facilitate effective adaptation at the local level and oversee cross-cutting climate adaptation and resilience issues. The UK government has made substantial investments in adaptation measures and recognizes the importance of integrating climate resilience into industrial and security strategies.
UK Government Announces New Investment to Improve Lowland Peat and Reduce Carbon Emissions (2023/06/29)
The UK government has announced new investments and actions to improve the condition of lowland peat and reduce carbon emissions. Peat soils contain over half the country’s terrestrial carbon stores and serve as a powerful nature-based solution against climate change. The government plans to rewet lowland peat soils to deliver carbon emission reductions, improve food security, boost wetland biodiversity, and better protect communities from flooding. To support this, the government will take action on all the recommendations made by Robert Caudwell, independent Chair of the Lowland Agricultural Peat Task Force, whose report was published recently. The government has also announced over £7.5 million of new funding to kickstart improvements in water management to rewet and preserve peat soils.
UK Government Increases Support for Farmers’ Nature Recovery with New NEIRF Round (2023/06/20)
The Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund (NEIRF) will announce an additional round to help farmers gain private investment for nature recovery on their lands. The event will be held during the ‘Nature for Finance’ event, where farmers, land managers, investors, and conservation experts will identify new investment opportunities. The NEIRF supports projects that generate revenue from nature’s benefits and can be scaled up and reproduced. Additionally, a new pilot phase of the Green Finance Institute’s investment readiness toolkit will guide farmers in creating investable nature finance projects.
UK Joins High Ambition Coalition in Support of Ambitious Global Plastic Pollution Treaty (2023/05/29)
The United Kingdom and over 50 other governments committed to eradicating plastic pollution by 2040 have endorsed a joint statement calling for an ambitious global treaty to mitigate plastic pollution and protect marine ecosystems. The statement calls for mandatory provisions to reduce plastic production and consumption and halt the release of plastics into nature. This complements the UK’s broader commitments to safeguard marine ecosystems, including the establishment of Highly Protected Marine Areas and additional bans on single-use plastic items. The statement precedes the second Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-2) set in Paris, where the treaty is currently under negotiation.
Innovation & Resilience in UK’s Agricultural Sector Amidst Aging, Climate Change, and Brexit (2023/05/22)
The UK agriculture sector employs 500,000 people and covers 75% of the land, but it only contributes 0.5% to the economy. The sector faces challenges such as an aging demographic, income inequality, and the impact of climate change. Brexit introduces new challenges, including trade disruptions and labor shortages.
Read the rest in our newsletter here.
UK Agriculture Joins Global Fertilizer Challenge with $3.8 Million Investment (2023/05/10)
UK Agriculture Minister, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, announced that the UK would contribute $3.8 million to the Efficient Fertiliser Consortium, a new research initiative that aims to develop innovative fertilizer products to boost productivity while preserving natural resources. The consortium is a partnership between the UK, USA, and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. Trevelyan stressed the importance of agriculture innovation to address challenges such as the climate crisis, food insecurity, and economic instability resulting from conflicts. She also highlighted the Agriculture Breakthrough initiative, which aims to make sustainable agriculture the most attractive and widely-adopted option for farmers by 2030.
DEFRA Inks MoU With Thailand MOAC (2023/02/24)
The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Thailand’s Ministry of Agricultural and Cooperatives (MOAC) signed an MoU for agricultural cooperation on 7 February 2023. The agreement seeks to promote technical collaboration, reduce non-tariff barriers, and encourage agricultural trade between the two countries. The MoU will result in the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the agricultural industry, address the fresh produce shortages in the UK, and promote sustainable farming practices.
UK Gov To Provide Visas For Horticulture Seasonal Workers (2022/12/19)
Businesses will have access to a total of 45,000 seasonal worker permits in the upcoming year. Businesses will be able to hire foreign workers under the Seasonal Worker visa route for up to six months in the UK thanks to the allocation. Compared to what was accessible to businesses at the beginning of 2022, this represents an increase of 15,000 dollars. A new team will seek to ensure sponsors are upholding workers’ rights by enhancing compliance inspectors’ training and procedures and developing clear guidelines and regulations for operators who may be exploiting employees.
UK Horticulture Survey Reveals Labor Shortages (2022/09/01)
A new survey from DEFRA reveals that in Q2 2022, out of the 512 farms with horticulture that responded, 45% reported a shortfall in seasonal labor. The average shortfall for the entire quarter per farm with horticulture that needed seasonal labor was 114 person days, equating to an 8% shortfall. The average need for labor increased throughout the quarter from 292 person days in April to 648 person days in June.
Defra Reviews Automation in UK Horticulture (2022/07/29)
Defra conducted a review of automation in the UK agriculture’s horticulture sector to reduce the sector’s reliance on low-skilled migrant workers. The review was co-chaired by Professor Simon Pearson and the Secretary of State for Defra. The report contains recommendations for future actions.
To read the rest of the report, please click here.
UK Government Funds Green Technology Development (2022/07/11)
The UK government has announced funding of over £54 million for 15 projects across the country to develop technologies that remove carbon emissions from the atmosphere. The projects include a machine that can pull carbon dioxide out of the air, a plant to convert household waste into hydrogen for use in the transport industry, and a system to remove carbon dioxide from seawater. The funding will help bring these technologies to the demonstration phase and towards successful commercialization. The projects aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resource efficiency.
Photo by Bernd 📷 Dittrich on Unsplash
📰 For more updates on this topic and other agricultural news, follow iGrow News on Google News.
3 Comments