Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    • August 2025
    • 2025 Poultry Health supplement
    • July 2025
    • 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2025
    • 2025 Innovation supplement
    • May 2025
    • April 2025
    • March 2025
    • 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    • February 2025
    • January 2025
    • December 2024
    • November 2024
    • October 2024
    • September 2024
    • 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    • August 2024
    • 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    • July 2024
    • 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    • June 2024
    • 2024 Innovation supplement
    • Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    • May 2024
    • April 2024
    • March 2024
    • February 2024
    • January 2024
    • December 2023
    • November 2023
    • Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    • October 2023
    • Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    • September 2023
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
  • FREE Email Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
Twitter LinkedIn
Podcast
Poultry News
  • Production
    • Broiler Production
    • Ducks
    • Egg Production
    • Game
    • Hatching
    • Housing
    • Turkeys
  • Processing
  • Business & Politics
    • Business
    • Economics
    • EU & Politics
    • Marketing
    • People
    • Training & Education
  • Welfare
    • Environment
    • Food Safety
    • Vet & Medication
    • Welfare
  • Feed
  • Genetics
  • New Products
  • Magazines
    1. August 2025
    2. 2025 Poultry Health supplement
    3. July 2025
    4. 2025 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    5. June 2025
    6. 2025 Innovation supplement
    7. May 2025
    8. April 2025
    9. March 2025
    10. 2025 Feed and Nutrition supplement
    11. February 2025
    12. January 2025
    13. December 2024
    14. November 2024
    15. October 2024
    16. September 2024
    17. 2024 Building for the Future supplement
    18. August 2024
    19. 2024 Poultry Health supplement
    20. July 2024
    21. 2024 National Egg and Poultry Awards finalists supplement
    22. June 2024
    23. 2024 Innovation supplement
    24. Pig & Poultry Fair 2024
    25. May 2024
    26. April 2024
    27. March 2024
    28. February 2024
    29. January 2024
    30. December 2023
    31. November 2023
    32. Processing Equipment Supplement – Nov 2023
    33. October 2023
    34. Building Supplement – Sept 2023
    35. September 2023
    Featured

    Poultry Business – August 2025 issue out now

    By Chloe RyanAugust 13, 2025
    Recent

    Poultry Business – August 2025 issue out now

    August 13, 2025

    2025 Poultry Health supplement out now

    August 13, 2025

    Poultry Business – July 2025 issue

    July 1, 2025
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Manage Jobs
  • Events
    • National Egg and Poultry Awards
    • Poultry Fair
    • Webinars
Twitter LinkedIn
Poultry News
EU & Politics

Automation and R&D a priority at NFU conference

Chloe RyanBy Chloe RyanFebruary 22, 20172 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Delegates at the NFU conference, 2017
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

A new report from the NFU urges Government and research providers to invest in agricultural R&D and to enable British farmers to use the latest technologies.

The report, Feeding the Future, Four Years On, has been launched at NFU Conference which concludes today, and identifies several innovation needs that will enable British agriculture to boost its competitiveness, resilience and profitability. The NFU is calling for decision-makers, research funders and providers to read the report and help create a funding and regulatory environment where new technologies and innovative practices can be adopted on farm as quickly as possible.

The NFU Conference session entitled Competitiveness: Keeping Ahead of the Game featured speakers including NFU Vice President Guy Smith and Head of Robotics and Automation at Harper Adams University, Professor Simon Blackmore, assessing farming’s current and future use of new, developing technologies.

 

Delegates at the NFU conference, 2017
Delegates at the NFU conference, 2017

 

Smith said: “Farming and agriculture is already an incredibly innovative industry but it remains very important that farmers recognise new opportunities for better returns, such as those developed from the Agri-Tech Strategy. The priorities listed in this report show the desire to continue building on what the industry already has.

“In the current climate of political uncertainty, there are many challenges out there for farmers, but with this comes real opportunities. For example, the Government’s new Industrial Strategy offers the opportunity to strengthen the food and drink sector as well as farming’s unique position in providing environmental goods and services.”

Farmers across agriculture and horticulture have set out eight research priorities that would boost the sector’s contribution to the economic and environmental performance of the UK food production system. Food and farming is the UK’s biggest manufacturing sector, worth £108 billion and as such is a key powerhouse in the economy.

The eight priorities are:

  • Digital, data-driven and engineering technologies
  • Crop and livestock genetics and breeding technologies
  • Interactions between air, soil, water and crop/animal processes within farming systems
  • Integrated approaches to management of crop weeds, pests and diseases
  • Integrated approaches to management of animal disease within farming systems
  • Evidence-based management and valuation of ecosystem service provision from farming systems
  • Skills, training and KE
  • Use of social and economic sciences
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
Previous ArticleEnvironmental Farming Scheme opening next week in Northern Ireland
Next Article “No antibiotics ever” pledges Tyson, world’s largest poultry firm
Chloe Ryan

Editor of Poultry Business, Chloe has spent the past decade writing about the food industry from farming, through manufacturing, retail and foodservice. When not working, dog walking and reading biographies are her favourite hobbies.

Read Similar Stories

Business & Politics

Aviagen launches gut health toolkit

August 1, 20251 Min Read
Business & Politics

Lakes Free Range hosts placement students funded by McDonald’s

July 24, 20252 Mins Read
Business & Politics

Poultry sector urged to invest in training in automation and AI

June 16, 20251 Min Read
Latest News

Environment Agency refuses Cranswick permit for Norfolk farm redevelopment

September 3, 2025

NFU survey reveals ageing UK poultry housing

September 3, 2025

Chicken price rises fuels meat and poultry inflation in August

September 2, 2025
Sponsored Content

How can UK farmers make poultry profitable without losing welfare?

September 1, 2025

Precision Nutrition: A global approach to reducing broiler feed cost.

August 1, 2025
© 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

  • Farmers Weekly
  • AA Farmer
  • Farm Contractor
  • Pig World

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.