top of page
shutterstock_1586704555.jpg

    Science & Technology News    

Key developments in science and technology in agriculture.

 

Government seeks views on reducing livestock methane production

Defra

23 August 2022

The UK Government has today launched a UK-wide call for evidence asking agricultural industry, scientists and the wider public for information on the use of new types of animal feed products that can reduce methane emissions from livestock.

Ruminant livestock – cows and sheep - are the leading cause of farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, feed products with methane inhibiting properties have shown potential in reducing reduce GHG emissions, especially from housed cattle. These products may include ingredients like methane production inhibitors, seaweeds, essential oils, organic acids, probiotics, and antimicrobials.

The consultation has been launched in agreement with the Devolved Administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The governments are seeking to find out how farmers and agri-businesses can increase adoption of this technology to support more sustainable protein production.

Defra announces £16.5m of funding for agri-tech projects

Farmers Weekly

23 August 2022

Farmers, businesses and researchers are being invited to link up to apply for their share of £16.5m of Defra funding for sustainable farming projects.

The projects will help drive innovation in agriculture and horticulture as part of feasibility round two of the UK government’s £270m Farming Innovation Programme.

This aims to support farmers and growers with novel ideas to help grow food production, encourage sustainable farming practices and increase productivity.

Food crops made 20% more efficient at harnessing sunlight

BBC News

19 August 2022

Scientists have made a breakthrough in a genetic approach that improves food crops' ability to harness the Sun. Researchers developed a way to make photosynthesis - the natural process that all plants use to convert sunlight energy into food - more efficient.

The research team, which is spread across UK and US, genetically altered soybean plants, and achieved a 20% greater crop yield. They hope this breakthrough will help alleviate food scarcity.

Lead researcher Prof Stephen Long, an agricultural scientist based at both the University of Illinois and the University of Lancaster, said that this was "the most important breakthrough" he had been involved in during his long career.

New report benchmarks UK agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions

Farming Online

18 August 2022

The work has been conducted by Crop Health and Protection (CHAP) and Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) to help sectors identify areas for improvement and opportunities available to facilitate positive change.

This is all with a view to helping farmers and growers reach net zero, optimise the unique opportunities to capture carbon, and potentially support other sectors in the drive to reducing the impact of climate change.

UK drought: Why we need to get used to wonky vegetables

BBC News

18 August 2022

Fruit and vegetables on the shelves will be smaller and look different as the summer's hot and dry weather hits crops, experts say. Potatoes, onions, carrots, apples and Brussels sprouts are likely to be worst-affected.

Many areas of the UK have seen very low rainfall in 2022, and parts of England are in drought. The National Farmers Union (NFU) wants supermarkets to accept more "wonky" produce and be flexible with growers.

Scientists say that heatwaves and drought will increase with climate change and that we must adapt to how this affects agriculture and our food.

Farming emissions remain largely unchanged since 1990s, Agricultural Science Association head says

Irish Times

10 August 2022

Achieving a 25 per cent reduction in agricultural greenhouse gas emissions will prove “very challenging” but debate on the subject must remain grounded in facts, the head of Ireland’s Agricultural Science Association (ASA) has said.

Dr George Ramsbottom said despite the tenor of recent public discourse, emissions have remained relatively unchanged since the 1990s and he saw no signs of any increase in the dairy herd.

“You’d imagine from what’s being reported that there was kind of an explosion in stock numbers and an explosion in emissions going on but the reality is probably not quite as dramatic as that,” he said, speaking ahead of the forthcoming Agricultural Science Association conference next month.

Supermarket food could soon carry eco-labels, says study

BBC News

9 August 2022

Supermarket shoppers could soon be checking the environmental impact of food before putting it in their trolleys, thanks to new research. Reliable information of this kind hasn't been available. That's because UK manufacturers only have to list their main ingredients, and that's by percentage, not amount.

Scientists have overcome the problem by using public databases to estimate the composition of thousands of food products and their impact. Many consumers want to know how their weekly food shop affects the planet, even though rising prices will likely be a more immediate concern for most.

Prof Peter Scarborough from Oxford University told BBC News he hopes that the research leads to an eco-labelling system for customers, but he believes that the bigger impact would come if the food industry uses it to cut its environmental footprint.

UK govt provides £3.3 million in funding to Miscanthus upscaling project

Farming Online

8 August 2022

A project to facilitate more planting of the perennial bioenergy crop, Miscanthus, has been awarded over £3.3 million in funding through the second phase of the government’s Biomass Feedstocks Innovation Programme, to contribute to 2050 net zero targets.

Miscanthus specialist, Terravesta, has been successful in its bid to secure Phase 2 funding for its OMENZ project which stands for ‘Optimising Miscanthus Establishment through improved mechanisation and data capture to meet Net Zero targets’.

OMENZ will deliver improvements on the entire Miscanthus establishment process, including approaches to producing planting material, field preparation, innovative agri-tech, new planting techniques, and cutting-edge technologies to monitor establishment in the field.

Study: Agri-environment schemes boost wildlife without damaging food production

Farming UK

2 August 2022

Agri-environment schemes can significantly increase local bird and butterfly populations without damaging food production, a long-term research project has found.

Scientists from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) spent a decade monitoring the impacts of a large-scale Defra-funded experiment at Hillesden, a 1,000-hectare arable farm in Buckinghamshire.

Beginning in 2005, this involved creating several wildlife habitats, including seed-bearing plants for birds, wildflowers for pollinators and tussocky grass margins to support a range of birds, insects and small mammals.

Oxford scientist wants bold action on crop genetic research

The Scottish Farmer

29 July 2022

Faced with an urgent need to drive improvements in the productivity, resilience and climate impact of British agriculture, leading plant scientist, Professor Jane Langdale, from the University of Oxford, has called on government to prioritise investment in crop genetic research as a primary driver of productivity in agriculture.

Writing on the Science for Sustainable Agriculture website, Professor Langdale – who led and authored a major review of UK plant science last year – asked why, in its plans for R and D funding, the UK Government was spending 20 times more on digital and precision farming projects, such as robotic harvesters, AI and sensor technology than it planned to invest in long-term, strategic crop genetic research.

“These agri-tech innovations are incredibly important in driving efficiency improvements at individual farm level, but they will prove to be relatively worthless without supporting corresponding gains in genetic potential," she argued.

bottom of page