Raising the Profile of UK Agriscience in Parliament

The multi-partner exhibit, staffed by scientists from Niab, the John Innes Centre, Rothamsted Research, the Roslin Institute and the University of Lincoln, showcased UK taxpayer-funded research and innovation taking place across a range of sectors and technologies, including digital agriculture, robotics, advanced crop and livestock breeding, vertical farming and AI.

The initiative provided a unique opportunity to engage with MPs, Peers and their staff, explaining why agricultural science and technology are so important to all our futures, particularly to a new intake of MPs who may not immediately think of farming innovation as important to them or their constituents.

Niab’s Scott Raffle and Mark Else showcased research from East Malling on water use efficiency, particularly the precision irrigation of strawberry plants, and in controlled environment horticulture with a poster on the development of a nitrogen demand model in raspberries.

APPGSTA chair George Freeman MP and vice-chair Charlie Dewhurst MP were joined by Agriculture Minister Daniel Zeichner MP at the exhibit’s opening ceremony and the launch of a new innovation agenda for UK agriculture from the Group, together with Niab CEO Professor Mario Caccamo and Head of Breeding Dr Phil Howell.

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