Blight-busting tech is on the horizon as Welsh scientists develop a ground-breaking mobile app to detect deadly potato disease before it strikes.

The technology seeks to revolutionise disease detection in potato crops by delivering real-time, location-specific forecasts directly to farmers’ smartphones.

The aim is to combat potato blight—a disease responsible for 20% of global crop losses and costing the global economy £3.5 billion annually.

Several leading organisations across the EU agri-food and feed value chain are urging policymakers to finalise negotiations on the future regulation of new genomic techniques (NGTs), calling it a critical step toward ensuring innovation and resilience in European agriculture.

Progress on the file has accelerated under the Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union, which led what stakeholders described as “intense and fruitful discussions.” While some points of contention remain, industry groups are pushing for a “proportionate compromise” that will unlock the potential of NGTs across the food and feed sectors.

In a joint statement, signatories said that in light of growing challenges related to climate change, sustainability and food security, Europe urgently needs a science-based and fit-for-purpose legal framework to govern NGT plants and products. They argued that such a framework is key to strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of EU agriculture and supply chains.

The global adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops — commonly known as transgenics — continues to rise, driven by advances in crop technology and increasing regulatory approval. South America saw the highest growth in GM crop area with a 3.5% increase, followed by North America at 1.1%.

The United States remains the global leader, cultivating 75.4 million hectares of GM crops, up 1.3% from the previous year. Brazil follows with 67.9 million hectares (+1.4%), while Argentina experienced significant growth of 8.3%, reaching 23.8 million hectares.

An area of England’s prime agricultural land the size of 1,300 football pitches has been lost to mega solar farms, according to a new report from CPRE

The countryside charity examined the 38 operational solar developments which produce more than 30MW of energy revealing more than half of them (53%) include the best and most versatile (BMV) agricultural land.

A cross-party group of 29 MPs and peers has written to the prime minister demanding immediate action to protect high-quality farmland from large-scale solar farm development across England.

The letter, co-ordinated following a recent roundtable of MPs representing areas where 1% or more of the land is occupied by existing or proposed solar farms, is backed by SolarQ, an apolitical group of UK-based solar experts.

Their data shows solar panels are disproportionately built on top-grade agricultural land, posing risks to national food security.

A new £1.5 million research facility at the University of Exeter is giving scientists the power to summon wind and rain on demand — all in the name of food security.

Launched on Friday, July 11, the Global Meteorological Simulator (GMS) allows researchers to recreate diverse weather systems within four advanced plant growth chambers. The goal is to understand how changing climates affect crops, pollinators and plant diseases — and find ways to feed a growing global population.

Funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the university, the GMS can simulate everything from tropical storms to cool mist. It is believed to be the only facility of its kind in a university setting worldwide.

Record breaking and extreme weather has become increasingly commonplace in the UK as our climate has changed over the last few decades.

The latest assessment of the UK’s climate shows how baselines are shifting, records are becoming more frequent, and that temperature and rainfall extremes are becoming the norm.

The latest State of the UK Climate report, published by Wiley in the Royal Meteorological Society’s ‘International Journal of Climatology’, provides insight into the UK’s changing climate.

Weetabix has slashed carbon emissions from its wheat production by 50% in a pioneering trial that could reshape sustainable cereal farming in the UK.

The company’s Lower Carbon Wheat Project, involving six local farmers from its Weetabix Growers' Group, successfully demonstrated how emissions from wheat cultivation – Weetabix’s largest single ingredient – can be halved.

Held at Duncan Farrington MBE’s farm in Northamptonshire, the trial shared results with 47 growers. Working with Map of Ag and the European Food and Farming Partnerships, farmers reduced synthetic nitrogen – a major carbon contributor – by 20% in three years, using cover crops, natural manures, and biological treatments.

A new generation of strawberry-picking robots is being trialled on a farm in Essex as part of a £1 million initiative aimed at addressing labour shortages in UK agriculture.

The project, led by the University of Essex and funded by Defra, is currently testing second-generation robotic pickers at Wilkin and Sons’ vertical strawberry farm in Tiptree.

The initiative marks a significant advancement in the development of automated solutions for horticultural labour challenges. The latest robot design is significantly smaller and more cost-effective than its predecessor, while maintaining high levels of performance.

A new industry group, the UK Fruit and Vegetable Association (UKFVA), has been formed to represent UK growers and try to secure crucial funding for the horticultural sector.

It is calling for clear commitments from government to strengthen domestic food production and protect UK food security.

The group will urge government to engage with growers and provide a replacement for the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme for producer organisations which is due to close at the end of the year in England.

A groundbreaking Scottish partnership is unleashing the power of 5G-connected robotics to transform precision farming—breaking down rural connectivity barriers and revolutionising how crops are grown.

Five organisations are developing robotic systems capable of performing detailed farming tasks — such as crop health monitoring, targeted fertiliser application, and soil assessment — enabled by portable 5G private networks.

This innovation aims to address pressing issues in modern agriculture, including rising input costs, labour shortages, stringent environmental regulations, and the need to boost food production while reducing environmental harm.

A groundbreaking initiative is underway at the University of Edinburgh that promises to transform the future of precision breeding. With a £5 million investment, the new research hub will harness the power of gene editing and artificial intelligence to develop more intelligent, more resilient farm animals.

This pioneering effort not only aims to enhance sustainability and improve animal welfare but also holds the potential to meet the increasing global demand for food in an environmentally responsible manner, offering hope for a more sustainable and ethical future of food production.

The five-year funding comes from the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Gates Foundation, The Roslin Foundation, and the University as part of the Edinburgh & SE Scotland City Region Deal.