Farm leaders have ramped up calls on the government to increase its budget for farming – arguing that doing so is vital to maintain UK food security. NFU president Tom Bradshaw made the call on 13 August – the day each year that the UK would run out of... Read more

Onions could be grown commercially without soil following a ground-breaking partnership between Essex University and major supplier Stourgarden. Tracy Lawson, of Essex’s School of Life Sciences, is using innovative techniques to grow onions aeroponically and help Stourgarden explore ways to make the production process more environmentally friendly. Based in... Read more

The government faces calls to put its money where its mouth is after Defra minister Daniel Zeichner pledged a “new deal” for Britain’s farmers. Mr Zeichner made the pledge during an NFU reception in parliament last month. More than 130 MPs and Peers attended the reception – held one... Read more

More than 225 farms opened their gates to the public last month to celebrate the best of British agriculture. The industry’s 18th annual Open Farm Sunday on 9 June saw events take place across East Anglia. Organised by the Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) charity since, the day put... Read more

Two of the region’s leading agri-scientists were recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list for their outstanding achievements. Professor Diane Saunders, of the John Innes Centre; and Agri-TechE director Belinda Clarke both received OBEs – joining hundreds of eminent people from all walks of life who also received awards.... Read more

Industry leaders have urged the new government to set out how it will ensure a certain future for UK food and farming. The reminder to make sure food security is top of the political agenda is contained in a joint open letter from the NFU, British Retail Consortium, UK... Read more