Attended by ministers from BEIS, Defra and DFID, the roundtable
helped to realise further growth in overseas investment in the UK
Agri-Tech industry as ministers reaffirmed their commitment to
ensuring the UK becomes a world leader in agricultural
technology, innovation and sustainability.
Hosted at 10 Downing Street, the event was the fourth in the
government’s series of investment roundtables which promote UK
industry sector opportunities to a global audience, and drive
foreign direct-investment into the UK as we prepare to leave the
European Union.
Ministers discussed the government’s strategic vision for the UK
Agri-Tech sector with senior executives from across the industry,
whose companies in total employ 10,000 people across the UK.
Companies who attended include AGCO, Alltech, BASF, Bayer Crop
Science, Calysta, Elanco, Marine Harvest, MSD, Syngenta,
Vitacress and Zoetis
and his
colleagues together highlighted that:
- underpinned by a modern Industrial Strategy, the UK is at the
forefront of Agri-Tech innovation and offers an established
business-friendly environment for investors
- UK Government’s commitment to the future success of the
sector is clear: UK Government-funded agencies are investing £400
million in agri-food research, with an internationally
competitive R&D
tax credits scheme
- the recent Agriculture Bill
also provides an further opportunity for Agri-Tech investors,
aiming to help farmers deliver a cleaner and healthier
environment through increased productivity and investment in
the latest technology
- a new start-up visa, launching in Spring 2019, will also make
the visa process faster for entrepreneurs to enter the UK
International Trade Secretary, MP said:
Today’s Agri-Tech roundtable is an excellent opportunity for
the UK to further build on already strong relationships with
investors, and for them to strengthen their ties with the UK
science base and farming industry.
As an international economic department, we want to work with
investors across the world to embrace technology and make the
UK a global leader in agricultural productivity, improve
competitiveness and sustainability.
In doing so, these investments will create jobs and prosperity
for rural communities across the country.
Environment Secretary, MP, said:
The UK is a world-leader for talent in agriculture and
technology, so there are real opportunities for our burgeoning
Agri-Tech sector. Harnessing technology enables our
hard-working farmers to become even more productive and
environmentally efficient.
We are already seeing the rewards of investing in Agri-Tech,
with further funding of around £30 million confirmed today for
farmers to purchase hi-tech equipment. We know that by
embracing technology – such as fruit ripeness spectrometers or
calving detectors – farm businesses can become more efficient,
productive and resilient.
Business and Industry Minister said:
Agri-Tech businesses are revolutionising farming, from
hands-free harvesting, to driverless vehicles and drones to
plant and tend to crops. Through our modern Industrial Strategy,
we have already committed £90 million to transform food
production, inspiring more innovative farming and boosting
productivity and highly skilled jobs for the future.
New investment will put the UK at the forefront of robotics, AI
and data science to meet the food demands of a growing
population.
The UK’s agriculture sector employs half a million people and
contributes to the wider agri-food supply chain – valued at £112
billion in 2017 and employing 4 million people.
The roundtable comes at an opportunity moment for the government
to engage with the Agri-Tech sector, as the UK looks to
contribute to future global food security and international
development by ensuring safe, healthy, nutritious food is
affordable and accessible to all.
