The UK Food Valley is committed to growing the food chain in Greater Lincolnshire through using innovation and new technologies supported by commercial investment, to help address UK food security.

The Lincolnshire food chain has also demonstrated that growth does not have to be at the expense of the environment, because by focusing on efficiency it is possible to simultaneously help businesses reduce costs whilst at the same time creating foods which have lower water, carbon and environmental footprints.

The UK Food Valley is pleased to see these same principles being set out in a new mission for the industry from the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Science and Technology in Agriculture Group News | APPGSTA.

The 30:50:50 Feeding Britain Sustainably to 2050 mission paper, sets out an ambition to increase UK farm output by 30% by 2050, whilst reducing the sector’s environmental impact by 50%.

Launched at an event in Parliament on 3rd November, the chair of the APPG George Freeman MP, former Science Minister and now a UK trade envoy, said: “The urgency of UK and global food security, affordability and sustainability challenges means clear, long-term objectives are needed to help farmers produce ‘more from less’, harnessing the latest advances in agricultural science and innovation. With our good soils, temperate climate, professional farming sector and world-class research base, Britain has all the assets it needs to lead the world in sustainable food production”.

The mission calls for more focus on how these advantages can be used to grow the industry sustainably, by ensuring that policy aligns with industry investment to deliver sustainable growth.  This includes doing more to ensure that science and innovation is commercialised so farmers and food chain businesses can adopt the latest technologies to benefit their businesses, the environment and communities.

This is the same principle as underpins programmes such as LINCAM, CERES AgriTech and the new Agritech Commercialisation Ecosystems (ACE) programmes which are being led by the University of Lincoln.

For more information about the 30:50:50 vison visit here.