Ambitious strategy aims to transform UK agriculture

A NEW agricultural technologies strategy unveiled today includes a £160 million Government investment in developing cutting-edge technologies.

It will also take innovative products such as cancer-fighting broccoli from the field to the shopping aisle.

There is clearly an expectation that industry will invest heavily in a strategy which is ambitiously aimed at transforming farming in the UK, using the latest technologies to ensure the process is as productive as possible while reducing environmental impact and resource use.

Professor Bob Webb, principal and chief executive of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), sits on the leadership council which developed the strategy.

He said: “The UK ‘agri-tech’ strategy is evidence that agriculture has clearly moved up the political agenda, and we welcome its launch.

“SRUC is supportive of the strategy’s proposals, and we believe it is well aligned with our own proven experience as an organisation dedicated to improving productivity and livelihoods in agriculture and the rural sector.”

Professor Webb highlighted the fact that the strategy provides new leadership for supporting greater integration of commercial and academic interests across research, extension and the skills base.

“The aim is to ensure the UK is a world leader in agricultural technology, innovation and sustainability to allow it to respond to the global challenge of ‘sustainable intensification’ — how we produce more food with fewer resources.

“This is an area of particular focus for SRUC,” he said.

“While Scotland and the rest of the UK has many strengths on which to build, the strategy has identified a need to improve coordination and integration among research and development, food supply chain businesses, governments and the different agricultural industries.

“The delivery of integrated services is very much SRUC’s business.

“We are already demonstrating its value through the coordinated activity of our research, education and consultancy divisions, which results in the transfer of knowledge locally, nationally and internationally.”

Professor Webb emphasised that SRUC will continue to work with policy makers in Scotland, the UK and Europe as well as national and international partners in research, industry and education.

The entire UK agri- food supply chain, from agriculture to final retailing and catering, is estimated to contribute £96 billion to the economy and employ 3.8 million people.

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts said: “Some of the biggest brands in farming and food are based in the UK.

“We have a world-class science and research community, and our institutes and universities are at the forefront of agricultural research.

“To get ahead in the global race, this strategy sets out how we can ensure that we turn our world-beating agricultural science and research into world-beating products and services.”

The agricultural technologies strategy will include a £90m Government investment in world-class centres for agricultural innovation, with additional investment from industry.

A further £70m has been allocated to an agri-tech catalyst designed to help new agricultural technologies bridge the so called ‘valley of death’between the lab and the marketplace.

Co-funded with industry, the catalyst will specifically support small and medium sized enterprises.

The investment includes £10 million to support the transfer of technology and new products to developing countries.

Professor Bob Webb, principal and chief executive of SRUC, said that the strategy provides new leadership for supporting greater integration of commercial and academic interests.