Food production in the UK can be helped if the government ploughs more money into agricultural research, it has been claimed.
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said as part of the Why Science Matters campaign that there has been a significant drop in the level of funding research in the sector has received.
President at the NFU Peter Kendall argued that a “unique challenge” faces the sector as more food has to be cultivated using less land and water.
“We need to embrace science, research and technology more than ever before to help increase production while preserving our environment and dealing with the impacts of climate change,” he said.
He suggested that the farming industry should work with the government to achieve this goal and look at new investment measures.
“Applied science and knowledge transfer must receive proper resource from government if we are to reverse the current trend and see new technology and advancements disseminated throughout the industry and more importantly to those working on the ground,” he concluded.
Lee Woodger, head of the NFU’s food chain unit, this week said that more food should be sourced locally.
