Developed by Fielder Nutrition, the product – named Surge – is among the first to merge biological inoculants with a targeted micronutrient package, aiming to give crops both a biological and nutritional edge from the earliest stages of development.

The formulation includes three UK-derived bacillus strains, which have been proven to significantly improve root growth, stimulate enhanced germination and support the plant’s ability to cope with stress conditions.

Further to this, the bacillus strains work to enhance the soil and reduce the need for other synthetic inputs as they solubilise P in the soul and fix nitrogen.

Complementing this microbial blend is a manganese-rich micronutrient mix, designed to further encourage root expansion and early nutrient uptake.

Fielder Nutrition director Robert Hawkin says Surge stands apart from traditional seed treatments:

“The interaction between the microbes and the micronutrients is unlike anything we’ve seen before – it enhances germination and seedling vigour, helping the plant access water and nutrients more effectively through a more developed root system.”

A closer look at Surge

The development of Surge began five years ago, with the product undergoing extensive field evaluations across the UK to ensure strong performance under British growing conditions.

One of the contributors to its design is Dr. Apostolos Papadopoulos, a specialist in Bacillus microbiology.

“Surge is built around a biological core – specifically, beneficial Bacillus bacteria – which are included to support the early stages of crop growth and long-term plant vitality,” says Dr Papadopoulos.

“These are naturally occurring, spore-forming microbes that colonise the root zone at germination, forming a mutually beneficial interaction with the plant.”

He explains that Surge works through multiple mechanisms:

• Encouraging early and vigorous root development, which helps seedlings access water and nutrients more effectively
• Increasing phosphorus availability in the soil through microbial solubilisation
• Enhancing the plant’s tolerance to stress, both environmental and disease-related, by improving root-soil dynamics and triggering internal defence responses.

“Although the results might not always be visible above ground straight away,” he adds, “the biological activity contributes to more even crop emergence and stronger early vigour – which can lead to more reliable yields, especially when growing conditions are less than ideal.”

According to Dr. Papadopoulos, Surge also differs from many of the microbial seed treatments currently on the market.

“What sets it apart is that its Bacillus strains have been selected and trialled specifically in the UK, rather than being adapted from overseas formulas.

This regional focus means it’s well matched to the crops, soils, and environmental conditions encountered by British farmers – giving it a clear performance edge.”

Bridging the gap

Over five growing seasons, independent UK field trials and farmer-led trials have recorded average yield increases of 5%, with even more pronounced benefits under challenging conditions like drought stress.

Recent collaborative trials with the University of Nottingham have also highlighted the product’s potential to support natural disease resistance.

In winter wheat, plants treated with Surge showed up to 50% less yellow rust and reduced fusarium infection within three weeks of sowing compared to untreated controls.

Researchers attributed this to the ability of Bacillus strains to activate plant defence signalling and trigger production of protective proteins.

Promoting sustainability is also a key part of Surge’s appeal. The microbial strains are known to aid phosphorus solubilisation and biological nitrogen activity, reducing reliance on synthetic inputs.

Importantly, the product is compatible with conventional fungicide and nutrition-based seed treatments, offering flexibility for integrated use.

Surge is available through your local seed house or agricultural merchant and growers interested in the technology are encouraged to speak with Fielder Nutrition’s team for more details:

• robert@fieldernutrition.com
• 01743 860924

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This renewable gas, produced from agricultural waste, food waste, and organic matter through anaerobic digestion, offers a remarkable advantage over other renewable technologies: it is chemically identical to natural gas. 

This means biomethane can integrate seamlessly into existing pipeline infrastructure without requiring costly modifications to the gas network. With a carbon intensity of just 16% compared to conventional methane, biomethane provides a genuinely sustainable alternative that can significantly reduce the overall carbon footprint of Britain’s gas supply. 

The triple benefit for farmers 

Biomethane offers British farmers three distinct but interconnected benefits that make it an attractive diversification opportunity, enhancing rather than competing with traditional agricultural activities.

This triple-win approach addresses the key challenges facing modern agriculture: economic pressures, operational efficiency and environmental responsibilities. 

The economic benefits centre on creating diversified income streams that establish profitable circular economies on working farms. The current Green Gas Support Scheme provides tariff-based support to producers for 15 years following successful applications, offering financial security alongside traditional farming income. 

The Danish model, called ‘green refineries’ by Mette Smedegaard Hansen, the corporate affairs director of Nature Energy, a leading Danish biomethane producer, demonstrates how farms can generate multiple revenue streams simultaneously through energy production, improved waste management, and enhanced fertiliser production.  

This approach creates resilient business models that maintain profitability even when individual revenue streams face challenges. 

Operational improvements focus on the high-quality digestate produced as a byproduct of anaerobic digestion, which serves as premium organic fertiliser that can reduce input costs while improving soil health.

This integrated waste management approach eliminates disposal costs for organic waste while creating valuable agricultural inputs. 

Environmental advantages position farmers as active contributors to climate solutions while supporting national energy security objectives. Biomethane production significantly reduces CO2e emissions, directly contributing to the UK’s net zero targets while creating measurable environmental improvements on individual farms.  

The process captures methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere from decomposing farm waste. Similarly, producing biomethane from cover crops in between main crop cycles can improve soil stability whilst boosting income. 

Simultaneously, biomethane production reduces the UK’s dependence on imported gas through domestic renewable energy generation, supporting energy independence while creating economic value from what was previously considered waste. 

The circular approach maximises value extraction from all farm resources, creating synergies between energy production, waste management, nutrient cycling, and traditional agricultural outputs. Enhanced farm sustainability emerges through improved biodiversity, better soil health, and reduced reliance on external inputs. 

An opportunity for UK farmers to take advantage 

Advancements in Europe demonstrate the transformative potential of biomethane when supported by appropriate policy frameworks. France leads the charge with over 700 connected sites producing 13TWh annually, connecting an impressive two new sites every week.

This rapid expansion reflects the success of carefully structured policy support that has created confidence among farmers and investors alike. 

The European Union has set ambitious targets of 366TWh by 2030, representing ten times the UK’s current ambition despite having only six times the population. This disparity highlights the significant opportunity British farmers are currently missing. 

The UK’s potential remains largely untapped, with industry targets of 30TWh by 2030 set by the Renewable Energy Association that could provide 14% of total national gas demand.  

Beyond the environmental benefits, biomethane offers crucial energy security advantages by reducing dependence on imported gas through home-grown renewable energy production. This domestic energy generation becomes increasingly important as global energy markets remain volatile and geopolitical tensions affect supply chains. 

As the UK’s largest gas network, Cadent is working hard to improve processes and simplify the experience for biomethane developers, facilitating injection across 47 connected sites with 4TWh annual capacity. This represents 50% of the UK’s total biomethane production, generating enough renewable gas to heat 350,000 homes across the country. 

Cadent’s recently opened OPTINET Compressor Project is vital to this collective effort. The UK-first on-site reverse compressor will enable the much-needed capacity in the gas grid so that biomethane developers can inject their green gas into the network.

Cadent’s established infrastructure and expertise position the company uniquely to support the rapid scaling of biomethane production as more farmers recognise the opportunity. 

How Cadent can support your biomethane journey 

Cadent’s approach removes complexity from biomethane development, providing farmers with expert support throughout the entire process from initial feasibility through to operational success.  

The company’s proven track record speaks to reliable partnership, already facilitating 50% of the UK’s biomethane production through established relationships with diverse agricultural operations across the country. 

This extensive experience translates into deep technical expertise in biomethane injection standards, quality requirements, and grid integration challenges that farmers face when connecting to the national network. Cadent understands the unique requirements of agricultural operations and can support the needs of farming businesses while maintaining the technical standards required for grid injection. 

Cadent’s policy advocacy demonstrates commitment to long-term sector development rather than short-term project gains. Current advocacy focuses on extending the Green Gas Support Scheme beyond its 2028 expiry, ensuring continued support for farmer investment in biomethane infrastructure.  

Cadent is also learning from European best practice, particularly the successful French ‘right to inject’ model that socialises connection costs, making projects more accessible to farmers by reducing upfront investment barriers. 

The transformation of British agriculture through biomethane represents an opportunity to create profitable, sustainable, and resilient farming businesses while contributing to national energy security and environmental objectives.  

With Cadent’s comprehensive support and proven expertise, farmers can confidently enter this growing market and lead the biomethane revolution that positions British agriculture at the forefront of renewable energy production.

Find out how you can get started.

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The research from the EIT Food Consumer Observatory that has just been released identified themes affecting young people’s motivation and ability to pursue agricultural careers in a bid to further the conversation around securing Europe’s farming future through increasing the number of young people entering the profession. 

With 35% of European farmers aged 65 or older, and only 11% under the age of 40, Europe is dealing with a ‘young farmer problem’, the researchers warn.

The study has also revealed that young people who are making career choices see a farming career as an opportunity to contribute to the community, fulfill a critical public service, and contribute to sustainability. Young Europeans are also excited by technological developments in the farming sector, and the possibility for farming to offer a highly skilled and scientific career path.

Despite this, young people perceive the farming profession as potentially lacking job security and adequate remuneration for the hard physical labour involved, with many expressing the perception that farmers are not respected or valued in society.

‘Attracting young people has never been more of a priority’

The Consumer Observatory study aims to start a conversation about the factors that cause young people to decide against a career in agriculture, and how these barriers might be addressed.

The researchers said that their work comes at a critical time for the farming sector, following the release of the European Commission’s Vision for Agriculture and Food earlier this year, which acknowledges the necessity of encouraging future generations to choose agricultural careers.

The findings of the study give rise to initial recommendations around how policymakers, educators and industry can communicate around agriculture careers and improve engagement with young people, particularly with those who lack first-hand experience of the sector.

These recommendations include reducing risk in farming careers through reliable policies that provide support and stability, as well as helping young people understand that agricultural careers can make for exciting technological careers by clarifying the status of innovation in the sector.

Klaus G. Grunert, professor of marketing at Aarhus University and lead of the Consumer Observatory, said: “With just 11% of farmers in Europe under the age of 40, attracting young people into the farming profession has never been more of a priority.

“Recruiting the farmers of tomorrow, who will be trailblazers in adopting sustainable practices, is essential if we want to feed our growing population. Our study indicates several areas where communications with and engagement of young people by the farming sector and wider industry can be enhanced. One of these is communicating more effectively about the role of technology in agricultural careers, appealing to young people’s interest in scientific career pathways.

“We need to make it clear that agriculture is more than just manual labour – it offers the chance to forge a highly specialised and technical career.”

‘Representation and exposure are key’

The study also highlights the importance of clarity around the types of roles available in the agriculture sector, as well as the level of remuneration that can be expected for each, to eliminate uncertainty around job security and financial risk. Also emphasised is the need for accessible role models for young people who don’t have firsthandexperience of the farming profession.

Carl Edwards, director of education and public engagement at LEAF (Linking Environment And Farming), who was interviewed as part of the study, added: “Young people want stronger connections with the agri-food industry, and hands-on learning is key to this.

“If they can’t see or experience farming, they won’t value or consider it as a career. Representation and exposure are key to making the sector feel accessible.”

LEAF’s education and public engagement team works with schools and farmers across the UK to bring sustainable farming to life on farms and in the classroom.

The EIT Food Consumer Observatory is also emphasising the need for further research into this critical area and is seeking collaborators on a follow-up quantitative study to determine which factors matter most to which groups of prospective farmers. This will enable more targeted and effective communication and engagement with young people, as well as a benchmark to assess impact over time.

Sofia Kuhn, director of public insights and engagement at EIT Food, said: “Given agriculture’s long-term importance, accurate and extensive data is essential for shaping policy, investment, education, and outreach to young people considering a farming career. Tracking perceptions, aspirations, and barriers year-on-year will allow stakeholders to monitor progress and adjust strategies based on real-world outcomes.

“We encourage any individuals or organisations interested in partnering with the Consumer Observatory on this urgent priority to get in touch. Only with accurate insights can we remove the barriers preventing young people from entering agricultural careers and ensure the resilience of the sector into the future.”

The study involved 30 young people across 12 European countries. Researchers also conducted interviews with five European experts on agricultural development, education and career choices.

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The results of a survey of UK farmers also found that 77% of agricultural workers suffer from sunburn at least once per year, while 76% of respondents remember getting sunburnt as a child or teenager.  

When asked why they were not regularly wearing sunscreen, 33% of respondents said it was because they often forget, and 25% said that they do not expect to burn.

Over a third (38%) of farmers also said they rarely or never cover their skin with clothing or a sunhat when working outdoors in the summer. This is despite most reporting that they spend the majority of their working day outside.

Highly preventable cancer

Ms Daniels explained that agricultural workers are frequently exposed to harmful UV rays because of the nature of their work, and it is alarming to see that many of these individuals are experiencing sunburn, which significantly increases their risk of developing melanoma – a deadly form of skin cancer. 

“We emphasise that farmers should avoid sunburns, as more than five sunburns in your lifetime double your risk of melanoma skin cancer.  

“A further study indicates that experiencing five or more bad sunburns between ages 15 and 20 increases your melanoma risk by 80%. People should be aware of this. 

“Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, but it is highly preventable. What’s more, if melanoma is treated early, it’s highly curable,” the expert added. 

There are around 17,500 new melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year. One in 35 men and one in 41 women in the UK will now be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in their lifetime. 

Melanoma is considered the most serious form of skin cancer because it has the highest mortality rate, and deaths from melanoma are projected to continue to rise. 

86% of melanomas are preventable by protecting your skin from harmful rays. 

‘Farm safety goes beyond’

80-year-old farmer Richard Harvey from Rutland in the East Midlands was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in 2018.  

He said: “I’ve never been one to spend hours on a beach sunbathing, so it was a surprise to be diagnosed with melanoma.  

“We didn’t used to be so aware of the dangers of the sun when I was younger, so I didn’t wear sunscreen very often despite having light skin and blue eyes. I used to take my shirt off for 30 minutes to an hour on sunny days, and I did occasionally burn, but not what you’d call severely.” 

Mr Harvey was diagnosed with melanoma after finding a lesion on his chest. Unfortunately, the cancer spread, and he was diagnosed as stage 4 in 2019.  

“I’ve been having treatment since, and I’m aware that there is a high chance of the cancer returning. Farmers often feel fit and well, and it can be easy to forget to protect your skin when you’re working outdoors,” the farmer added. 

Stephanie Berkeley, manager at the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies), emphasised that farm safety goes beyond working safely with livestock, transport or machinery.  

“Working in agriculture means you spend a lot of time outside and means you have far more sun exposure than people who work indoors. 

“Despite the well-established (and continuously growing) body of evidence linking sun exposure and skin cancer, there are many farmers out there who are still regularly suffering from sunburn.  

“We’d urge all farm workers to remember that they are the agriculture industry’s biggest assets and to be sun safe and know their skin.” 

READ MORE: Farmers warned of melanoma as awareness month launches

Signs of melanoma skin cancer

The charity team explained that there are two most common signs of melanoma skin cancer: the appearance of a new mole or lesion on your body and a change in an existing mole or lesion, such as a change in shape, colour, bleeding or itching. 

People with pale skin, blue eyes and those who have many moles on their body are significantly more likely to develop melanoma than those with darker skin tones.  That said, everyone should adopt safe sun practices to protect their skin. 

The Melanoma Focus CEO concluded by saying that taking preventive measures such as wearing a high-factor sunscreen, wearing a hat and covering up when working in the sun is crucial for reducing the risk of melanoma and safeguarding the health of farmers and other workers who spend a lot of time outdoors. 

The charity encourages anyone who has noticed changes in their moles or lesions to contact their GP.

Many of these moles or lesions do not end up being anything serious, however, it is always important to be diagnosed early as early-stage melanomas are generally curable.

May has been called Melanoma Awareness Month. Visit the charity’s website to learn more or call the free and confidential Melanoma Helpline on 0808 801 0777.

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Designed for farmers and millers, it allows for the on-site quantification of mycotoxins in grains and other commodities with minimal effort.

With its intuitive workflow and walk-away operation, this system can independently and simultaneously test up to four samples in less than 10 minutes.

The four-minute assay time is supported by the AgraVision Pro reader, which controls timing, temperature, and flow, ensuring precise and reliable results every time – even in tough conditions.

Dust and dirt? No problem, the company adds.

The water-based extraction and dilution process is easy to use and avoids hazardous solvents, ensuring safety for both you and the environment.

With the Romer Labs Data Manager, you can easily store and organise your data or transfer it to a PC as needed.

Interested in seeing the solution in action?

Book a free demo through the Romer Labs website – or by contacting one of the company’s experts directly.

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The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the technology by animal genetics company Genus.

The infection, which causes fever, respiratory distress, and premature births, costs the industry approximately $2.5 billion (£1.75bn) each year in lost revenue in the US and Europe alone.

The approval follows years of close collaboration with the FDA and is a significant step on the pathway to commercialisation of gene-edited pigs in the US and other international markets, the company said.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute focused their efforts on the CD163 gene in pigs. This gene produces a receptor on the surface of cells, which the PRRS virus uses to cause infection.

Experts removed a small section of this gene, focusing on the section of the receptor that the virus attaches to, leaving the rest of the molecule intact.

Supported by Edinburgh Innovations (EI), the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service, the team collaborated with Genus, who also licensed novel technologies from other institutions, to produce pigs with the specific DNA change.

The resulting pigs do not become infected with the virus, and the animals show no signs that the change in their DNA has had any other impact on their health or wellbeing.

‘Milestone in use of gene editing’

Professor Bruce Whitelaw of the Roslin Institute said: “We are delighted to see the PRRS-resistant pig gene edit approved for use – this is a milestone in the use of gene editing in livestock and a landmark moment for the livestock industry towards managing a global disease that causes devastating losses.”

Jorgen Kokke, CEO of Genus, added that the FDA approval is a “fantastic” achievement for the company and represents a major step towards US commercialisation.

Dr Susan Bodie, EI’s head of business development at the University of Edinburgh’s College of Medicine and Vet Medicine, concluded: “This is a very exciting development in translating cutting-edge research into a major solution for the food production industry.

“Gene editing – making targeted changes to DNA in a lab – allows scientists to rapidly introduce beneficial traits in plants and animals, which can take decades to achieve through traditional breeding programmes.

“EI is proud to support Roslin Institute researchers to work with industry on pioneering world-changing animal bioscience like this.”

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According to CPRE’s latest report, this loss equates to 56,000 hectares of farmland, an area similar in size to the city of Leeds, and represents a critical loss for both food security and environmental sustainability.

CPRE said that there has been a worrying decrease of nearly 7% in the number of urban fringe farm holdings since 2010.

The overall figure masks the difference between Green Belt (designations that surround the largest towns and cities) and other urban fringe holdings, with Green Belt faring comparatively badly.

In relation to England overall, this supports the view that there is greater pressure on urban fringe holdings, CPRE added.

A spokesperson for the charity explained: “The amount of land used for farming in urban fringe areas is decreasing, with much of this loss occurring in the Green Belt.

“At the same time, smallholdings have been increasing in number, with the potential to increase diversity and positively impact the urban fringe farming landscape.

“Overall, however, there is still much we do not understand about the reasons for these changes, and further research and support is needed to ensure that urban fringe farming is protected and able to thrive.”

Farms located in Green Belt areas

There are a broadly similar number of large farms (above 100ha) in the urban fringe area as in all land nationally. Small to medium-sized farms (those below 100ha) are more present in Green Belt areas than other countryside, including Comparator Areas (CAs).

CPRE said this suggests that Green Belts, rather than an urban fringe location on its own, have an influence in supporting small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) farm businesses, although it is unclear why this is the case from currently available data.

Such locations could therefore provide an advantage for farm viability if businesses are able to tap into many potential customers.

This is especially the case if farms have diversified into selling produce directly or providing services such as stabling. In such cases, consolidation into larger units may be less necessary or desirable.

Although numbers of urban fringe farms have declined in recent decades – with the biggest losses noted in small to medium-sized farms – this fall has now stabilised, the charity confirms.

Increaseing number of ‘micro farms’

Despite an overall rate of decline, very small farms have bucked the trend, rising in numbers more recently, reflecting a similar rise in national figures.

CPRE said: “Frustratingly, we lack a clear explanation for the statistical data, which makes it difficult to target support for the farms that need it most.

“Explaining the dramatic increase in very small farms is not straightforward. New businesses, for example, ‘micro farms’, could be forming as SME farms are broken up or sell land.

“It could reflect the economic difficulties of medium-sized farms: they are too large to adapt to niche markets alone but too small to compete on economies of scale selling into commodity markets, where margins can be wafer thin.

“The fall in the largest farms may be surprising, but not so if it reflects increased merging of farms, as other data indicates, with each farm, on average, managing more land: despite falls in overall numbers over 100ha, the area covered by these farms has increased by 330,000ha from 2010 to 2021.”

Changes in types of production farms

CPRE has also noticed that between 2010 and 2021, there were large changes in the types of production farms specialised in across England, with general cropping seeing one of the biggest increases (up 22%) and dairy the largest decrease (down 29.2%).

Overall, these national changes are reflected in the urban fringe, but there were bigger losses for each falling farm type, particularly cereals, grazing livestock and horticulture, and smaller increases.

For specialist pigs, there was a loss of urban fringe farms against a national trend of increasing number of holdings overall.

The charity added that numbers of dairy, horticulture and mixed farms “have fallen dramatically” since 2010, both nationally and in the urban fringe.

Dairy farms are down nearly a third nationally, and horticulture holdings are down a fifth. Mixed farms also fell by 14%. This decline was notably greater in urban fringe areas, reflected in falling numbers of urban fringe farms more generally.

Recommendations to strengthen British farming

Since 2011 there has been a notable fall in vegetable production in the UK, which may shed light on the identified falls in horticultural enterprises in the urban fringe. Furthermore, and concerningly, the rate of change appears to have accelerated sharply since 2021.

A spokesperson for CPRE continued: “Drawing on previous analysis from 2006, we can speculate on reasons for the more recent changes in urban fringe farming. These include the knock-on impact of wider societal changes (such as the development of major infrastructure); the need and appetite for other activities to supplement financial income (e.g. stabling, education); and the impact of local food networks.”

The charity added that issues which are preventing urban fringe farming from evolving and thriving are multitude: from planning system issues to a lack of clear understanding, these failures need our attention if changes are to be made.

“Our recommendations to strengthen farming on the urban fringe include improved policies, targeted support for farmers, and further data collection and analysis to better inform next steps,” CPRE concluded.

Read the report here.

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A new study published in Science by a team of international scientists across five continents led by KAUST associate professor Brande Wulff reports a previously unknown molecular event that initiates the immune response to a major wheat disease.

The researchers explained that the findings provide strategies to engineer wheat that has stronger immunity against infection.

As the main food staple for billions of people and one of the main sources of animal feed, wheat is one of the most important food commodities in the world. This importance is why a wheat pandemic can be even more devastating than a human pandemic.

Professor Brande Wulff said: “Climate change is causing diseases to appear in places previously unseen. We need more study of plant immunity to develop technologies that will protect valuable food crops.”

‘Polio of wheat’

Like animals, plants have immune systems, but very different ones. Vertebrates, including humans, rely on blood cells for their immunity. These cells emit specific types of proteins that bind to and kill a pathogen, the professor explained.

Lacking a circulatory system, plants have evolved a different immune approach, but one that is equally effective. The challenge is understanding the specific molecular reactions that lead to the plant killing and thus surviving an invading pathogen.

The study shows the first molecular events to occur inside plant cells in response to stem rust, a fungus given its name because infected plants show brown pustules on their stems and leaves when infected.

Sometimes referred to as the ‘polio of wheat’, historically stem rust has been the cause of many famines. While farming practices have produced wheat that is resistant, the unexpected spread of stem rust can wipe out harvests.

The immune reaction begins when stem rust interacts with a specific type of protein known as ‘tandem kinases’. Kinases are universal molecules that operate in human immunology too, as well as contribute to glucose uptake, the formation of blood vessels, neural development and more.

Tandem kinases get their names because they are physically linked together. They also are known for their role in plant immunity.

‘Critical to food security’

While their importance in stem rust immunity does not come as a surprise, the study shows the initial molecular reactions tandem kinases conduct to achieve an immune response.

This response ultimately kills the cell, denying the pathogen of the nutrients it parasitically extracts. Thus, the pathogen fails to proliferate and infect more cells, instead dying with its morbid host, the researchers explained.

In the absence of the pathogen, professor Wulff and his colleagues found that the tandem kinases are bound to each other, almost like wearing handcuffs, keeping them inactive.

However, when a pathogen binds to one of the kinases, it effectively unlocks the cuffs, freeing the other kinase to switch on the immune response. This mechanism had never been previously observed and gives insights on ways to engineer wheat that has stronger resistance against threatening disease.

Because of the evolutionary conservation of the immune mechanism across cereals and against other pathogens, the study provides a framework for strengthening cereal crops against many diseases.

“A majority of countries see wheat as critical to their food policy and food security. The more we understand how wheat reacts to pathogens the more we can sustainably secure the food supply for the world’s growing population,” professor Wulff added.

The ease at which it can be grown, stored, and processed, as well as its nutritional value, has made wheat the most produced and traded crop in the world. In the last ten years, more than 750 million tonnes have been grown annually. In contrast, rice, another major food staple, has barely exceeded 500 million tonnes over the same time.

Professor Wulff is also deputy chair of the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Food Security. This centre is conducting scientific research to enhance sustainable food production, especially in arid environments.

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The minister for food security and rural affairs spoke of “world leading” research being carried out at the Norwich-based John Innes Centre and the potential for the Land Use Framework – which is currently in consultation stage – to provide the “most sophisticated land use data ever available”.

But he faced angry reactions from the audience attending the Norfolk Farming Conference with his reply to calls to hold a consultation on the emotive issue of inheritance tax (IHT).

“The Budget is not going to change, and part of the reason it doesn’t change is if you start untangling the Budget then you suddenly put the whole economy at risk,” was his stark message.

The refusal to hold further discussions on IHT was slightly at odds with the words of conference chair Dr Belinda Clarke, who earlier said: “the onus is on the farming sector to ‘lean in’, the government is in listening mode.”

Mr Zeichner set out the government’s vision for the future of farming, which comes in the form of the Farming Roadmap. Mr Zeichner described this as: “The most forward-looking plan that makes farming profitable and sustainable for the future. Food production is at its core, along with diversification and nature restoration.”

He acknowledged the tough time that farmers have been facing with outbreaks of avian flu and bluetongue virus.

“We know that facing animal diseases creates some deeply emotional experiences. We are determined to face animal health issues head on. Our approach is to work with vets, scientists and farmers to find solutions. Biosecurity is at the top of our agenda, it is so very important.

“This includes biosecurity in plants. Expanding global trade and climate change have increased the ways disease can get into the country. The government has set out a five-year Plant Biosecurity Strategy to tackle this.”

Biosecurity the dominant discussion

The theme of biosecurity was also high on the agenda at the Norfolk Farming Conference.

Ash Gilman is director of agricultural strategy at food manufacturing company Cranswick. Among its products are pork and poultry. “The threat of disease is top of our radar,” he said. “If producers are investing into getting high quality products into the supply chain, they deserve to be protected around border control.”

Meanwhile, a trio of experts in animal and plant health urged farmers and horticulturalists to use every tool in their arsenal to mitigate against diseases attacking crops or livestock – and that may well include gene editing.

“Plants are like detectorists,” said Professor Jonathan Jones from The Sainsbury Laboratory. “They can detect the presence of pests and have the ability to withstand thousands of attacks but there will inevitably be some plants that can’t detect and defend every attack.”

With the farming sector plagued with pests such as rusts, mildews, bacteria, viruses and eelworms, Prof Jones made the point that farmers need solutions that are not simply straight from a can.

Prof Jones is part of a team looking at introducing genes into plants that will add a layer of resistance. Much of the work is being carried out on potatoes and potato blight, with the latest strain of blight resistant potatoes complying with the Precision Breeding Act, which allows gene edited plants into the marketplace.

While England is pushing ahead with gene editing, much of the EU, and Scotland, are holding back. Prof Jones said: “The Precision Breeding Act enables biology to replace chemistry, but we need everyone on board.”

Richard MacIntosh is assistant chief plant health for DEFRA and his workforce are leading on the 2023-2028 GB Plant Biosecurity Strategy. This piece of work also involves the devolved governments and industry stakeholders.

Contingency planning

With billions of pounds being lost each year globally to disease and invasive species, Mr MacIntosh said a plant security strategy is vital.

Under the Plant Security Strategy, Mr MacIntosh explained there are a number of steps each time a threat presents itself. Behind the scenes, risk analysts are continually scanning reports from a host of sources, including social media, as they try to identify potential problems. This is called Horizon Scanning.

The next stage is a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA), in which the likelihood of the pest arriving and its potential impact is assessed.

At this point, scientists, policy makers and ministers get involved to make informed decisions based on horizon scanning and PRA.

If a risk is identified the next step is to create a contingency plan and management strategy and produce guidance for growers.

To give a sense of scale of the problem, currently there are 85 identified pests attacking apples, 90 pests attacking oak trees, 160 pests attacking tomatoes and potatoes face a threat from 165 different types of pest.

Replying to a question from the Norfolk Farming Conference audience, Mr MacIntosh said that no matter what trade deals were negotiated by the government, biosecurity would never be compromised.

If Mr Zeichner and his government really do want to work with farmers, then now is the time to ‘lean in’.

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Routes to Regen, an innovative farm Lighthouse Project, has just been launched by members of the Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI) to demonstrate how regenerative farming can be made into a more attractive business proposition for UK farmers when supported by cross-sector collaboration.

The project, which will take place in the East of England throughout 2025, aims to address the environmental challenges posed by the global food system, which is responsible for approximately 30% of human-produced greenhouse gas emissions and remains the biggest driver of nature loss.

While the benefits of regenerative farming are well established, research by the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Agribusiness Hub has found that economic risk and a fragmented support system often deter farmers from making the transition.

This project will see big food and finance businesses, including McCain Foods, McDonald’s, Lloyds Banking Group, Waitrose & Partners, NatWest, Barclays, Aon, Tokio Marine Kiln and Lloyd’s, turn insights from this research into action.

It aims to demonstrate a united approach in tackling barriers to transition by consolidating and simplifying support mechanisms into a clear and accessible framework for farmers alongside expert support to help farmers select the best solutions for their unique business.

‘Making regenerative agriculture a more viable and attractive choice’

The project will be programme-managed by The Royal Countryside Fund, with on-farm advice from Ceres Rural, and will provide participating farmers with a ‘menu’ of support such as:

• Financial support: awareness of the discounted capital available, business planning advice, opportunities to supply rotational crops, discounted seeds for cover crops and pollinators, weather insurance, and advice to make best use of public funding schemes.

• Technical support: research and trial insights, connections to local livestock farmers, assistance with measurement/data collection such as discounted soil sampling.

• Peer-to-peer support: opportunities to attend demonstration days and knowledge sharing events.

The partnership explained that by taking a whole-farm approach, the programme aims to reduce risk for the farmer, increase adoption rates, and make regenerative agriculture a more viable and attractive choice for farmers.

The support options have been provided by the SMI members leading the work alongside other companies and initiatives operating in the region, including ADM, British Sugar, Burgess Farms, Cranswick plc, Farm Carbon Toolkit, Frontier, Landscape Enterprise Networks (LENs), Muntons, North Farm Livestock, Soil Association Exchange, Sustainable Food Trust and Wildfarmed.

The project will also test SAI Platform’s recently developed Regenerating Together Framework, which offers a globally aligned definition and farmer-centric approach for regenerative agriculture, as the basis for its measurement and evaluation.

The group intends to showcase learning from the project to other organisations aiming to accelerate regenerative farming around the world, with ambitions for it to be replicated in other regions, with more support for farmers added.

A key area of opportunity will be leveraging the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s network of over 250 CEOs globally to unite the food, finance, and insurance sectors, facilitating the essential collaboration needed.

The power of cross-sector collaboration

Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, said that the Routes to Regen project builds on the significant work undertaken by the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Agribusiness Hub that identified that financial risk and a fragmented support system were key barriers to the adoption of regenerative farming practices.

“It exemplifies the power of cross-sector collaboration that the SMI is uniquely positioned to facilitate and aims to demonstrate a new model for how industries can unite to drive sustainable change on a global scale,” he continued.

Beth Hart, chief sustainability & social impact officer at McDonald’s, added: “Regenerative agriculture presents us with a critical opportunity to secure a long-term, sustainable future for farming.

“We’re continuing to test and learn, but we already know that implementing regenerative practices requires real and lasting partnership across the supply chain to support and incentivise farmers to adopt these practices.

“We are delighted to be a part in developing and testing the SMI’s blueprint, helping to create a comprehensive menu of support for farmers that puts them in control. This initiative aligns with McDonald’s broader sustainability goals and our commitment to driving positive change in the food industry.

“We are excited about the potential to set a new model for industry collaboration through this pilot so we can inspire global adoption of regenerative farming practices.”

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