The latest Government report shows UK self-sufficiency broadly unchanged in 20 years, but highlights worsening risks. Long-term declines in the natural environment and worsening climate change pose serious risks to UK food security.

The latest three-yearly report on food security has found the UK was 75% self-sufficient in the food that can be grown in this country last year, and produced the equivalent of 62% of overall food consumed.

But while the figures are broadly unchanged in the past two decades, the report warned that long-term declines in “natural capital” – resources such as clean water, healthy soils and wildlife such as pollinators – are a pressing risk to UK food production.

A major new facility has opened to support the UK's pandemic preparedness of viral diseases which spread from animals to humans.

The high-biological containment science facility, named the Brooksby Building, has been completed by the Pirbright Institute, based near Woking, Surrey.

The site will also study viral diseases of livestock, such as foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), African swine fever virus and bluetongue virus

A Lincolnshire farm recorded a groundbreaking harvest this year with Merlin spring oats, delivering yields of over 11 tonnes per hectare - more than double the national average.

The unprecedented yield, achieved by Happy Days Farming, was attributed to a combination of Merlin's varietal strengths, optimal nutrition, and an unusually wet spring.

"The yield numbers on the display were so high we initially thought the equipment was faulty," said farm manager Mark Popplewell. "The grain tank was filling much faster than expected, even compared to a strong wheat crop. It quickly became clear that we were looking at something exceptional."

The Dutch company, dsm-firmenich has released a statement, emphasising that Bovaer is an 'important scientific innovation in the fight against climate change'.

The Dutch company which owns and developed the methane reducing feed additive Bovaer said 'the current misinformation' around Bovaer was just another example of how 'scare stories can proliferate online.'

Dsm-firmenich has released a statement, emphasising that Bovaer is an 'important scientific innovation in the fight against climate change', adding it was been confirmed as 'totally safe, both for the cow and for consumers of milk and dairy products.'

The government’s long-awaited Land Use Strategy is set to be pushed back again until at least early 2025.

On 26 November, Defra’s parliamentary under-secretary of state, Baroness Hayman of Ullock, told the House of Lords: “We expect the green paper to be published for consultation in the new year and I urge all noble lords to read it and take part in the consultation.”

The green paper outlining Defra’s initial proposals should help to provide a bellwether on how seriously the government views food production in relation to other environmental, housing, and solar targets.

A study by the German Potato Trade Association (UNIKA) and the DKHV has found that fresh potato cultivation produces less greenhouse gas emissions than cereal production.

The detailed literature review focused on the carbon footprint associated with potato cultivation and processing.

The research was led by Dr Marcel Naumann and Professor Elke Pawelzik from Georg-August University of Göttingen and contextualises the sector’s current carbon output and identifies potential areas for reduction.

Arla has joined forces with some of its retailer buyers in a farm-level study investigating how a specific feed additive can help reduce enteric methane emissions.

Around 30 Arla milk suppliers have been recruited to trial Bovaer to help the co-operative and retailers better understand how the product impacts on farm operations and how additives in general can be incorporated into feeding routines and their use scaled up.

Arla has described it as a “first of its kind” initiative, with its UK agricultural director Paul Dover suggesting that feed additives have “huge potential” to improve carbon footprint at farm level.

A refreshed government agri-tech strategy that helps unlock the potential of agriculture to deliver multiple benefits is now vital for the next decade, a report says.

There is 'clearly' a need for a new ag-tech strategy for the next 10 years following on from first one, launched in 2013, according to Agri-TechE's report.

While there is 'much optimism' for the next decade of UK and global agri-tech innovation, contributors to the report also identify challenges.

Farmers in the Fens are utilising insights from satellite technologies to help them combat the impact of extreme weather while boosting food security.

The new study is working with East Anglian farmers, as well as farmers in Kenya, to take advantage of data from cutting-edge satellite technology.

The research is proposing new solutions to give farmers better access to the data they need to make themselves more resilient to the impact of climate change.

Multi-drug resistance in UK animals remains at its lowest level since reporting started a decade ago as shown in a report published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

The figures, published in the latest UK-Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance (VARSS) Report during World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, show that antibiotic sales in food-producing animals remain at a 59% reduction since 2014. Sales of antibiotics of highest critical importance to human health remain at extremely low levels, accounting for less than half a percent of total veterinary antibiotic sales.

Abi Seager, Veterinary Medicines Directorate CEO said: "The VMD has been publishing antibiotic sales, use and resistance data for the UK's animal population for over a decade and the positive trends demonstrate the dedication of the UK's farmers and vets to ensure responsible antibiotic use in animals.”

Denmark has agreed on how to implement the world’s first tax on agricultural emissions, including flatulence by livestock.

This comes after months of negotiations between the country’s major parties, farmers, the industry, trade unions and environmental groups. The Green Tripartite agreement was first announced in June.

From 2030, farmers will have to pay a levy of 300 kroner ($43; £34) per tonne of methane (as per carbon dioxide equivalent) on emissions from livestock including cows and pigs, which will rise to 750 kroner in 2035.

The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) GMO panel has issued a positive opinion on the safety of Impossible Foods’ heme protein ingredient (soy leghemoglobin), bringing the firm’s flagship products closer to commercialization in the EU.

There will now be a 30-day comment period, during which questions of a scientific nature will be addressed by EFSA and the European Commission. The Commission will then draft a decision to be brought to the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.