Govt announces £168m in funding for innovation in farming

Speaking at the NFU Conference in Birmingham today (21^st February), farming minister Mark Spencer revealed the £168 million funding to drive the development on new technology and innovation.

The focus will be on ‘practical solutions that advance food productivity and deliver significant environmental and animal welfare benefits’.

This could include: robotic technology to support harvesting, handling equipment and cow mattresses to help prevent lameness in dairy cattle, sensors on tractors to measure the levels of nutrients in soils, or improvements to slurry storage.

New funding for an annual vet visit for livestock farmers also recently became available under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

Mr Spencer said: “The role farmers play in putting food on our tables as well as looking after our countryside is crucial. We know that sustainable food production depends on a healthy environment, the two go hand in hand.

“Helping farms invest in new technology as well as bringing in nature-friendly schemes will support the future of farming.”

Commenting on government plans to introduce funding to promote enhanced productivity, innovation and improved animal health and welfare in smaller abattoirs, he added:

“If farming is to flourish then we need to get the fundamentals right – abattoirs are key to the food supply chain and there is clearly a need to support smaller providers in this area.

“The availability of funding will help abattoirs to invest in new technology and improve productivity and animal health and welfare, allowing our agriculture sector to get its high-quality produce to market.”

The number of low-capacity abattoirs has shrunk by 20% in the past 10 years. A network of smaller abattoirs around the country is key to supporting the rural economy and allowing farmers to sell their own meat in farm shops, the government said.

This new funding is expected to be announced in full later this year.