More than 50 industry representatives met this week to discuss how they can “reboot” the UK’s oilseeds sector after several challenging years and a significant fall in cropping area.

The UK oilseed rape crop had the smallest harvest area for 40 years this year. It has also suffered from low yields and disease pressure, which has driven more growers to move away.

Farmers, agronomists, traders, and breeders were encouraged to collaborate at the meeting in order to help bolster OSR production. A number of factors were discussed to improve the viability of the crop, from disease control to breeding developments and policy changes.

Roughly 71% of consumers have little to no familiarity with the term “regenerative agriculture” or its practices, says Purdue University’s monthly Consumer Food Insights Report. Those that do know the concept may not be willing to help pay for it via higher food prices, regardless of the associated environmental benefits.

The report, which surveyed US consumers from around the country, comes courtesy of Purdue’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability (CFDAS), and assesses food spending, consumer satisfaction and values, support of agricultural and food policies, and trust in information sources.

Nearly half (43%) of those surveyed said they are “not at all familiar” with regenerative agriculture; another 28% said they are only “slightly familiar” with the term and concept.

Scientific and industry leaders are urging ministers in the new Labour government to act quickly and decisively in bringing forward the secondary legislation needed to implement the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 in England.

In an open letter addressed to ministers in the Departments for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), more than 50 leading organisations and individuals across the scientific, food processing, farming, breeding, veterinary and input supply sectors have welcomed the signing into law of the Precision Breeding Act in March 2023 as a significant milestone for sustainable innovation in food and agriculture but note that until detailed implementing rules are introduced at Westminster, this legislation serves no functional purpose.

Brazil tops of the list of the world’s “breadbasket” regions best poised to meet a global demand for food expected to increase 60% over the next decade, according to a new report from US-based think tank Atlantic Council.

To maintain the country’s place as a both a reliable producer and exporter, “Brazilian leaders in the public and private sectors must make choices and investments that both retain Brazil’s innovative edge and sustain the natural ecosystems that enable its agriculture to thrive out to the year 2050.”

To do so, notes the report, food producers must have “the markets, incentives, technical support and capital needed to adopt advanced farming and ranching practices that enable them to produce more and be rewarded for their nature-positive practices.” There must also be investment into digital agriculture solutions, robotics and automation.

New analysis suggests that Britain is heading for one of worst harvests on record, following record breaking rain last winter that has reduced yields.

This year’s harvest for key crops is set to be one of the worst three since detailed records began in 1983, just behind 2020 and 2001.

According to the analysis of government data, the total harvest is set to be down by over 13%, or three million tonnes, on the five-year average.

Europe needs to move faster in putting low carbon bread on the table, if it wants to meet its emission targets, according to one of the world’s largest crop nutrient producers.

Fertilisers, derived from fossil fuels and used to help produce wheat, account for nearly half of the emissions of a loaf, a figure that could easily be cut, said the head of Yara International, Svein Tore Holsether. However manufacturers needed financial help in a nascent area where profitability was hard to come by, he added.

Nitrogen-based crop nutrients that are key to plant growth are made from ammonia, which in turn is derived from mixing nitrogen from the air with hydrogen from fossil fuels such as natural gas or coal. Along with farm manure, fertilisers have been among the leading sources of the agricultural sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 5 per cent of the global total.

Italian pig farmers have warned swine fever is threatening the country’s €8.2bn prosciutto, sausage and pork delicacies industry and their own livelihoods, as Giorgia Meloni’s government battles to stamp out the country’s worst outbreak since the 1960s.

Health authorities last month banned the transport of live pigs within a 21,000 sq km containment zone in northern Italy’s pig-producing heartland. The tough restrictions have left hundreds of farmers with about 700,000 unwanted animals, accounting for roughly 7 per cent to 8 per cent of Italy’s annual pig production.

Two UK scientists have welcomed what they called a “positive response” from Defra minister Daniel Zeichner MP on implementing the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 in England. If implemented, the act will enable the development and marketing of gene-edited crops in England and is seen by many in the fresh produce industry as an important step towards modernising crop breeding.

In July, livestock scientist Professor Helen Sang and plant scientist Professor Tina Barsby wrote an open letter to Defra ministers calling for the new government to “act quickly and decisively” in bringing forward the secondary legislation needed to bring the act into force.

Zeichner responded: “Innovation is key in supporting our efforts to strengthen food security, enhance resilience and improve agricultural sustainability.” He added: “We are now considering how to take forward the regulatory framework outlined in the act and will share our plans with key interested parties soon.”

Robotic technology is soon to be introduced into fields of daffodils to help combat the labour shortage issues and revolutionise traditional harvesting methods.

Cambridge-based Agritech company Autopickr Ltd is poised to lead the way in automating the daffodil industry.

From machines which can autonomously harvest crops, to “followbots” which shadow a human worker and alleviate some manual tasks – there are many opportunities for technology to work with and help farmers.

Agri-tech, robotics and a centralised investment framework are all needed to transform and strengthen the UKʼs food security, a harrowing think tank report has recommended.

Badger culling will end in England within five years as part of a shift in the fight against bovine tuberculosis, the government said on Friday.

As part of the new TB eradication strategy, badgers will be vaccinated instead of killed and work to develop a separate vaccine for livestock will also be stepped up. The government hopes the strategy will deliver its target to eradicate the disease in England by 2038.

While campaigners Badger Trust criticised the government for allowing culling already licensed this year to go ahead, the National Farmers Union said culling had worked against TB and shouldn't be ruled out.

HB4 wheat, a drought-tolerant genetically modified wheat variety, can be safely grown and bred in the United States, according to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

The agency's determination makes the U.S. the fourth country in the world to green-light production of HB4 wheat, following Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.