Food security, water management and the logistics of cross border trade were among the key themes of a discussion between NFU president Minette Batters and the PM Rishi Sunak at the NFU Conference. Thinking beyond the politics there is a need for innovation in all these areas to tackle the root causes.
It was the first time that a prime minister had spoken at the conference for over a decade and Sunak was keen to discuss the government‘s recent responses to farmers’ concerns. These included a withdrawal from the trade deal with Canada, new legislation to support fair and transparent contracts in the dairy and poultry sector, and the introduction of a new Food Security Index that would differentiate home-grown produce.
Extreme events reveal the cracks
However, questions from the floor soon highlighted how extreme events are impacting the sector, creating deep seated challenges that need a longer term strategic response.
The PM voiced the desire for British farmers to produce a higher proportion of the food consumed in the UK, citing tomatoes, lettuces and plums as examples of produce that could be grown locally to fulfil demand. He suggested that better labelling would support this.
Recent weeks have seen farmers being asked to store water on their land to protect houses and businesses. In response to Minette Batters’ suggestion that a different approach was needed to water management. He replied that the flood recovery framework was offering up to £25k for land damaged by flood waters.
And when a Hertfordshire farmer described how the cost of trade with EU neighbours was prohibitive, the PM said progress had been made with Sweden and Austria.
Under the shadow of an election, a politician’s response will always offer a short-term fix for the symptoms, when what is needed for agriculture is a sustainable solution for an uncertain future.
Energy for all
It is time to look beyond the politics. Times journalist Ben Spencer reported today (20 Feb 2024) that a University of Oxford spinout has developed a new solar cell that can capture 28.6 per cent of the solar energy that strikes it and he juxtapositions this with the fact that every 14.5 seconds enough solar energy hits the earth’s surface to power all our needs for a day.
Although this prospect is beyond futuristic, the reality is that in many cases we already have the technology that can overcome the intractable challenges in agriculture. What is needed is the will, of industry and policy, and agronomic context in which to apply it.
British grown fruit and veg?
Improved food security in one of the world’s most fertile countries is a realistic concept. A recent Defra commissioned report concluded that the technology was already available to make the UK’s Industrial Horticulture Sector not only profitable and productive but also an exporter of produce on the international stage. Significant investment is required, but food insecurity is only going to intensify.
Smart water management?
Water management needs to address excess and shortage so a whole catchment approach is needed to plan water resources. This needs to go beyond creating new reservoirs and restricting abstraction licences.
Our recent investigation of novel agri-tech for smart water management, revealed opportunities for improved storage in the environment, ways to protect soil from water loss and opportunities to repurpose grey water. Obviously small scale solutions can only address local issues but we know from history that engineering solutions can revolutionise water management.
Faster trade of fresh produce
As a nation the UK imports 46% of the food it consumes, with around a quarter of the UK’s food imports passing through the Short Strait (Dover and the Channel Tunnel). The UK food supply chain is dependent upon just-in-time logistics systems, which allow the transportation of food as close as possible to when it is needed.
The technology exists for digital verification and validation of units down to the size of a tablet. This technology embedded into pack sheds and integrated into current logistics could enable digital passports for fresh produce, fast tracking it through the ports and across borders.
Farm-centric technology ……the rest is politics!
Design thinking is rarely applied to agriculture. This innovation concept takes the view of the (technology) user and designs the solution around their needs.
In a political vacuum, using this approach to garner multi-disciplinary perspectives to industry challenges, could potentially move the industry beyond promises to deliverables.
Further outcomes from the conference
Prime Minister’s speech – The Government has committed to maintaining the farming budget of £2.4bn for this Parliament and there will be a Farm-to-Fork food summit each year. Also a new annual UK-wide Food Security Index to capture and present the data needed to monitor levels of food security.
£220m (already announced) is now available for innovation and productivity grants that includes grants for solar and no-till drills:
- Robotics and solar grants for farmers including for autonomous tractors and robotic weeders
- Farm Equipment and Technology Fund plans to incentivise the use of no-till drills
More about funding.
Alan Lovell, chair of the Environment Agency – outlines response to water management including a £25 million fund for natural flood management, with successful projects to be announced 23 Feb 2024.
