Future of Farming - Q1 - Mar 2019

Q1 / 2019 AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT FROM MEDIAPLANET WHO TAKE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

RT HON MICHAEL GOVE MP How the UK is meeting the challenges facing the agricultural sector. » p2

DAWN HOWARD, NOAH “New vaccine technologies can allow the UK to trade more freely with other countries.” » p4

MINETTE BATTERS, NFU “Farming and food production is on the brink of a revolution.” » p6 CREDIT: RU_

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Insight from DEFRA RT HON MICHAEL GOVE MP Environmental Secretary, Food and Environmental Affairs, DEFRA

“We know that changes to the environment caused by climate change will increase the pressure on productive land to feed a growing world population.

“With our temperate climate, fertile soils and world class talent pool – covering agronomy, science and technology – the UK is ideally positioned to increase yields and productivity to meet this challenge.

“We have the potential to take advantage of many technological advances – including vertical farming, machine learning, artificial intelligence and exploring the opportunities of gene editing. Harnessing these will help us consolidate our position as a major global food producer while also tackling issues such as agriculture emissions.”

Smarter farming for higher profits and lower environmental impact PROFESSOR STEVEN BANWART Global Food and Environment Institute Director and Leadership Chair in Integrated Soil, Agriculture, Water Research, University Of Leeds

PROFESSOR LISA COLLINS Professor of Animal Science and N8 Chair, Smart Agri-Systems, University Of Leeds

Byline: James Alder Farmers face a set of issues more challenging than at any other time in our history.

Climate change, ever-shrinking biodiversity and powerful market forces dominate farming methods. Researchers are pooling different areas of expertise to develop sustainable farming for the future.

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he world’s population is increasing – expected to approach 10 billion by 2050 – but so is the demand on its land and resources. This year’s UN State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture report highlighted how biodiversity and soil health is at risk due to land management practices. This is largely linked to farming methods required to meet consumer trends.

Humans have become increasingly reliant on a smaller number of crops, with only a handful of the 6,000 plant species cultivated for food production accounting for more than half of the world’s total crop yields.

Farm-led experience with multidisciplinary research offers solutions Lisa Collins, Professor of Animal Science and N8 Chair in Smart Agri-Systems at the University of Leeds, explains that a radical approach to agricultural research is enabling academics and farmers to tackle multiple challenges together.

“There are multiple issues affecting pre-farm-gate production - with a decline in biodiversity being just one.

Now, larger-scale projects, which allow us to incorporate expertise from many different fields at the same time and place mean we can get to the heart of these very complex sets of challenges in a much more holistic way and provide

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better decision-making support.”

Looking at a complex, competing set of agricultural challenges and working out how to break them down takes expertise from a wide range of areas. Research from the University of Leeds aims to find solutions for commercial arable and livestock farming, with cutting-edge agricultural tech and research expertise.

Environmentally-conscious farming can have financial benefits Tackling the breadth of environmental issues set out in the UN report in a crosssector approach that combines both experience and expertise can benefit a farm’s bottom line. Professor Steven Banwart, Global Food and Environment Institute Director, explains: “Solutions that safeguard biodiversity and soil health may mean more profitability in the longer term for a farm.

“For instance, farmers adopting precision agriculture to reduce overall inputs of pesticides and fertiliser would likely see improved profit margins through lower overheads. On top of that, if you can demonstrate that it’ll improve water quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions around the farm, that’s a powerful result that benefits everyone.”

The university’s approach to ‘smart farm’ technology is empowering farmers to increase their own farm’s efficiency, while reducing the impact of modern farming on the ecosystems that are essential to sustaining farm value and productivity.

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Read more at www.leeds.ac.uk/globalfood

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R&D: Making an impact in the real world

A clinical trial has revealed the likely health benefits of eating omega-3 rich chicken and eggs. It’s an example of research and development making a big difference in the real world.

RICHARD KENNEDY Group CEO, Devenish

There are always financial and commercial barriers to consider with research and development, so companies such as ours need financial resilience, patience and a willingness to find the right partners.”

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o one says that conducting research and development in the farm, feed and food industry is easy. But it's absolutely critical in order to drive innovation and protect human health, says Richard Kennedy, Group CEO of Belfast-based agri-technology company, Devenish.

“Good R&D in our sector has the potential to make a positive, pro-active impact on society,” he says. “There are always financial and commercial barriers to consider with research and development, so companies such as ours need financial resilience, patience and a willingness to find the right partners.

But ultimately, R&D is vital because it provides new knowledge, new learning and new innovation.”

Of course, R&D may take place in the lab — but it doesn't stay in the lab.

Indeed, it can have exciting real-world applications and essential real-world benefits. “As scientists, we're always

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looking for a win-win for everyone in the farm, food and feed industry, with better food, reduction of disease and a positive effect on farms and agri-businesses,” says Dr Alice Stanton from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Devenish.

The importance of nutrients in the food value chain Kennedy explains that his company's research strategy is focused on finding gaps or inadequacies in the food value chain with regards to the utilisation of nutrients. “We know that nutrients are the basis of life, and that their utilisation is the best way to ensure the health of everyone,” he says. “Nutrients are good for the soil, good for the animal, good for the environment, good for the food and, ultimately, good for the consumer.”

Essentially, he points out, “we are what we eat, eats.” For example, some fish (such as salmon, mackerel and tuna) obtain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) from the algae and plankton in their diet. Evidence shows that the omega-3 we obtain from regularly eating that type of fish can prevent heart-attacks, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and diabetes, and it can promote brain, muscle and joint health.

80% of the population is deficient in omega-3 Yet, worryingly, 80% of the world's population is deficient in omega-3

PROFESSOR ALICE STANTON Professor Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Director of Health, Devenish

fatty acids — and 1.5 million deaths occur annually because of it. A low omega-3 index (less than 4%) indicates a heightened risk of heart and brain disease. Optimal levels should be 8% or above.

One reason for this deficiency is that there isn't enough oily fish to feed the world; plus, omega-3 doesn't naturally occur in farmed fish. “To become omega-3 rich, farmed fish have to eat plankton, algae or fish oils in their feed,” says Dr Stanton. “But that's not happening because prices have increased.”

Omega-3 from chicken and eggs instead of fish So, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, on behalf of Devenish, aimed to discover if omega-3 could be consumed effectively from other sources. To that end it ran a clinical trial, which involved 161 subjects eating at least three portions of chicken and eggs per week, that were naturally enriched with omega-3 (PUFA). Results showed an increase in omega-3-PUFA levels in blood and red-cell levels, indicating that regular consumption of naturally enriched omega-3 chicken and eggs is likely to reduce risk of heart attack, stroke, dementia and depression.

It's easy to make up for the deficiencies in our diet Much attention is paid to reducing

excessive consumption of the calories, sugar and salt in our diet. That's important says Dr Stanton, but we must address nutritional deficiencies too.

“Nutritional deficiencies are causing as much ill health as the excesses. Yet these are easier to address, because we can add nutrients – such as omega-3 – to foods that people already consume, whereas it's more difficult to persuade them to cut down on food. After all, the argument of curbing excesses has been made for the last 20 years, and we're still only seeing small health improvements.

We believe addressing deficiencies as well as excesses will have a more rapid impact.”

People are more aware of healthy eating now, says Kennedy. “That puts more responsibility on all of us in this area because consumers want provenance, authenticity and the potential for pro-active nutrition, rather than reactive medicine. And, yes, that's a pressure — but it also presents a real opportunity for the food industry.”

Byline: Tony Greenway

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Brexit advice for veterinary professionals in the agri industry

Healthy animals are more productive DAWN HOWARD Chief Executive, NOAH

SIMON DOHERTY President, British Veterinary Association

Whatever form it ends up taking, uncertainty around Brexit has touched industry across the UK, including the veterinary profession.

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n a no deal scenario, the export of animal products to the EU would not be permitted until the UK became a listed country.

Even after this, there would be increased requirements for veterinary certification and border checks. It’s estimated that certification requirements in a no deal situation could increase by 150-300%, and this increase is likely to be even higher in Northern Ireland.

Many farmers are concerned that British farming, renowned for its high welfare and quality, could be undermined by trade deals with countries that have lower standards and, in some cases, use methods currently banned in the UK. So where do vets fit in?

Vets work closely with farmers at all stages of the agricultural supply chain and government-appointed Official Veterinarians (OVs) play a vital role in public health: certifying the safety and quality of animal products during border checks, working in research and surveillance or monitoring animal health and welfare in abattoirs.

The UK veterinary workforce is heavily reliant on EU graduates, particularly in public health. In the meat hygiene sector, for example, 95% of OVs hail from overseas, predominantly the EU. BVA continues to lobby for immigration rules to meet the needs of the profession as a matter of urgency and for vets to be restored to the Shortage Occupation List to safeguard against postBrexit shortfalls in capacity.

A no deal Brexit could also affect veterinary surveillance: the process of disease monitoring and management. Amid reports of avian influenza and African Swine Fever in neighbouring countries, there are serious concerns that UK vets will lose access to the EU-wide Animal Disease Notification System, potentially impacting on future EU-funded research collaborations.

What can vets do?

It’s imperative that farmers and vets work closely together in the unpredictable times ahead. Our advice would be to plan as far ahead as possible, getting routine herd health and fertility visits, and bTB (Bovine TB) tests booked in as soon as possible. Farmers should also talk to their vet about vaccines to avoid any gaps due to potential medicine supply issues.

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Protecting animal welfare and improving farming productivity are closely linked; healthy animals are naturally more productive. The resulting environmental benefits of lower carbon footprints of food from animal agriculture can bolster farm businesses.

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ross-sector collaboration is key to improving animal health and welfare.

The development of the Animal Medicines Best Practice (AMBP) Programme – led by NOAH in partnership with stakeholders from acroass the industry including farmers, vets, regulators and leading academics – has created a training programme for the sheep, dairy, beef and pig sectors in the responsible use of antibiotics.

Farmers can participate in training online, or vets can make use of resources to work with their clients. Either way, this training is recognised as a mark of assurance, for example by Red Tractor. It raises awareness, knowledge and understanding of antimicrobial resistance and helps drive best practice in a consistent manner across UK farms.

Vaccinating livestock to control disease and prevent loss Stakeholders are working together to control endemic disease on a national level. NOAH has been running a campaign promoting a three-step approach of ‘Stop, Equip and Treat’ as its Blueprint for Animal Health. Underlying ‘responsible use’ principles, is the prevention of disease where possible, for example, by vaccinations and improved biosecurity.

New vaccine technologies not only help control disease on individual farms but are necessary for national disease eradication plans, which in turn can allow us to trade more freely with other countries.

However, while there have been successes, a lack of joined-up thinking over successive governments has failed to drive sustained improvements in productivity from the national herd. New direction and opportunities for UK livestock farming, coupled with available technology to control diseases, means this could now be possible.

Good vaccination strategies to support pig farms across the UK Pigs face a range of disease challenges. Farmspecific solutions are built around good biosecurity, husbandry, nutrition and the herd health plan.

Vaccination strategies to protect breeding pigs, piglets and growing pigs are central to disease control.

Safe and affordable chickens and eggs In the UK, almost half the meat we consume is from poultry. We also eat over 12 billion eggs annually. The poultry sector plays a major role in providing safe and affordable food. To meet this demand, strict biosecurity and management systems have been developed. Vaccination is a core part of poultry flock health planning, not only benefitting poultry health and welfare directly, but also safeguarding us, the consumer.

UK as centre for animal welfare and innovation The UK has global centres of excellence for life sciences and agricultural technologies. New animal health products and services are needed to address disease challenges. Incentives to stimulate innovation must be developed and business R&D spend needs to be able to focus on innovation.

NOAH’s vision is to be at the forefront of UK animal health and welfare With a clear vision, delivered collaboratively, UK farming looks set to gain from further investment in animal medicines. This will improve animal health and welfare, aid productivity and deliver environmental benefits.

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CREDIT: MORSPAN

Improving welfare increases profitability Vencomatic demonstrate that improved bird wellbeing directly increases efficiency, productivity and profitability in the poultry industry.

Reducing injurious pecking The Pecking Pan In sponsored research by Bristol University, the Bristol pecking material - now manufactured by Vencomatic was proven to reduce injurious pecking in birds, while encouraging them to exhibit natural behaviour foraging for food on the poultry range.

Combatting red mite - the MitePerch One of the major problems facing the poultry industry is the scourge of red mite. These small bloodsucking parasites can significantly affect the health of the bird. To combat this issue, Vencomatic have developed the MitePerch – an effective nonchemical treatment, which eradicates redmite by means of low-voltage

electrodes that are housed beneath an easy-grip perch. This electrocutes red mite as they travel to attack the chickens.

Discouraging aggressive pecking - Dark Brooding Vencomatic have explored further the research Bristol University performed with the Vencomatic modular Dark Brooder concept. The Dark Brooder is a warm, darkened space which mimics natural brooding behaviour displayed by the mother hen.

By resting in the dark brooder, the chicks are not pecked by active birds and so, aggressive pecking is not learned at an early age. 90% of birds that peck at four weeks old, do so as an adult, and dark brooding will prevent this.

GORDON ALEXANDER Chief Executive Officer, Vencomatic Group UK Easily affordable heating = larger eggs and reduced food intake - The Ground Source Heat Pump By maintaining a consistent warm temperature in the poultry house, chickens do not eat as much food, and will lay larger eggs. Using the ground source heat pump from Vencomatic Energy, showcasing the revolutionary Clima Unit air-to-air heat exchanger, Vencomatic are able to keep poultry houses warm using the heat of the planet.

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Improving birds’ environment improves productivity By investing in research with

leading universities, Vencomatic is leading the way among UK poultry equipment companies. Vencomatic have clearly shown that by improving the environment and encouraging natural bird behaviour, higher welfare leads to increased efficiency, improved productivity and profitability.

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A vision for the future of farming Research that connects PROFESSOR COLIN CAMPBELL Chief Executive, James Hutton Institute

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hallenges facing farming are inextricably linked: population change; pressure on resources; climate; environmental degradation and ecosystem depletion.

Research around agriculture therefore needs to be crossdisciplinary to ensure the way we produce food maintains landscapes, supports contemporary rural economies, and enhances biodiversity in waters, soils and habitats.

Recent innovations – like vertical farming, predictive genomics and gene editing in plant breeding – are rapid, promising necessary increases in productivity as well as protecting the environment. Issues remain in accepting such innovation, however, and we need to understand what constrains farmers and the public from adopting new technologies. Equally importantly, farming doesn’t operate in isolation; competing with other sectors (including other land use) for resources, and - through diversification - farm households are more independent of on-farm income.

Agriculture is nationally and strategically important, operating where global challenges and local concerns intersect, and is bound up in many social issues around stewardship and common good. Interdisciplinary teams at the James Hutton Institute investigate topics from seeds to society, using both public and private funding, delivering £12.75 in economic impact for every pound invested and providing practical solutions, analysis and advice across agriculture and policy. Discover how at our industry events or online.

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MINETTE BATTERS President, NFU

The food and farming industry is one of the largest contributors to the UK economy. It is worth £113 billion, it provides jobs for nearly four million people, meaning 13% of the working population work within the UK food and drink sector. Food really matters.

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he next 20 years are shaping up to be a period of significant change for food and farming, in policy, in markets and in consumer demand. We have a unique opportunity to restructure our food industry, so it meets the needs of our farmers and growers, and most importantly, the public who tell us they want to buy British food because of the pride they take in our world-leading animal welfare and production standards.

Farming and food production is on the brink of a revolution that will see what we eat and how we produce it undergo a huge change. Advances in technology and the challenges of a changing society are already creating new opportunities for the sector as people’s preferences for what they eat, and how they buy shift on a scale perhaps never seen before.

How will we eat in 2040?

The NFU has just launched a report, ‘The Future of Food 2040’, which takes a look at what we’ll be eating, how it will be produced and the impacts and opportunities for farming. Inherently, farming is a forward-looking and progressive industry that has always been an early adopter of technology. British farmers have a real interest in producing the raw ingredients that underpin a healthy diet and help to solve some of the national challenges we see today. The report illustrates potential paths ahead.

The future starts now I believe agriculture has a bright and innovative future. Robotics, tracking systems that monitor the real-time health and position of livestock and vertical farming are just some of the very real possibilities that can help to increase UK productivity.

To ensure we are able to take full advantage of these technological advances it is crucial that farm businesses are not only given the support they need to survive and thrive now, but they are

able to start to plan and prepare for the future.

Failure to do so will mean these advantages and opportunities are simply grasped elsewhere in the world, risking both our current and future food security. We must remember we operate in an increasingly connected global world.

That same global world is also becoming more volatile and agriculture, by its nature, is an industry that is exposed to climatic and market volatility. As the UK looks to develop new trading relationships, there is significant potential for volatility to increase as markets are increasingly exposed to global factors like weather, pests, disease and trade relations. It is vital there are measures in place to ensure UK farming can ride out these volatility storms, as well as underpin skills development and knowledge exchange so farmers and growers can better deal with these issues longer term.

The climate change challenge Climate change is arguably one of the greatest challenges of our time and British farmers are ready to act. Our ambition is to strive for net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the whole of agricultural production by 2040. We recognise a combination of policies and practises are needed to achieve this aim, and the NFU is looking to build on our work with industry-led initiatives, such as the Greenhouse Gas Action Plan, so we can manage our natural resources more efficiently and reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint.

It is crucial that government continues to engage with us to deliver a sustainable, competitive and profitable British farming sector for generations to come to enable us in turn to continue to produce great quality, traceable food from world-leading, British farms.

Read more at businessandindustry.co.uk

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Fuelling farming’s future A zero-emission future is in sight for the UK’s agricultural sector if we commit to the latest innovations in alternative fuels and connected fuel management solutions.

Change may be on the horizon, yet the future looks bright for farming. With developments in connected technologies and cleaner-burning fuels driving progress, the UK’s agricultural sector is well on its way to tackling growing productivity and sustainability challenges.”

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oncerns around air pollution in agriculture are on the rise. The NFU’s recent announcement that UK farmers should aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040 reflects the growing need to minimise agriculture’s environmental impact.

The road to net-zero emissions Importantly, the announcement offers the industry an opportunity to reassess its traditional reliance on diesel. The journey to clean air is one that we are all on together, yet there is widespread confusion on how we can begin our transition to a greener future while also ensuring we meet the productivity needs of today.

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Europe takes lead with cleaner fuels for cleaner air Currently in the UK, there is limited awareness of cleaner-burning, liquid alternatives to diesel. Looking further afield - however - is a different story.

Europe leads the way in the development of liquid fuel technologies and infrastructure, making the case for the role of alternative fuels in kick-starting farming’s journey to cleaner air.

Engineered to limit health and environmental impacts, alternative fuels deliver a number of significant sustainability and in-use benefits.

Key characteristics of alternative fuels may include lower emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, methane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, as well as renewability and biodegradability.

As many are aware, a range of liquid alternative fuel compositions are already widely available, including hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), biofuels, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquified natural gas (LNG) and gas-toliquid (GTL).

Gas-to-liquid fuel won’t impact productivity Gas-to-liquid fuel (GTL) in particular

BRIAN WORRALL Director, Corporate Affairs at Certas Energy

is likely to play an important role in improving air quality in farming without impacting productivity. As a drop-in fuel that does not require modifications to existing infrastructure or equipment, GTL offers an immediate solution to cut emissions from farming machinery that cannot otherwise be switched to alternative energy sources.

Keeping farmers connected Innovations in fuel types have also been matched by developments in fuel monitoring technology. Many farms rely on fuel storage solutions to maintain a steady supply of fuel to keep their business moving. Yet even with a tank in place, over 50% of farmers struggle with fuel monitoring.

Whether farms rely on conventional or alternative fuels, a dependable supply is essential. Without it, operations can grind to a complete halt. With the rise of AgriTech, developments in tank connectivity help to maintain productivity while giving farmers peace of mind that they will never run out of fuel.

Integrated directly with fuel storage tanks, connected telemetry systems offer capabilities well beyond monitoring to create greater fuel

management efficiencies. Key features of the latest solutions include alerts to sudden drops in fuel levels that could indicate theft or spillage, as well as the ability to automate deliveries with a local fuel supplier when supplies run low.

Change may be on the horizon, yet the future looks bright for farming.

With developments in connected technologies and cleaner-burning fuels driving progress, the UK’s agricultural sector is well on its way to tackling growing productivity and sustainability challenges.

Sponsored by

Read more at certasenergy.co.uk/agriculture

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IMAGE: SPREADING SLURRY IN ROWS REDUCES POLLUTION

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From nitrogen pollution to farming solutions One of the less savoury sights of country life is the muck spreader sending a plume of foul-smelling slurry over a field. It is inefficient, as much of the nitrogen intended to be returned to the soil as a valuable nutrient either evaporates as ammonia or runs off into nearby watercourses. But it is cheap.

NED GARNETT Associate Director of Research, Natural Environment Research Council

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esearch by UK environmental scientists at the NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, including Professor Mark Sutton, shows that more accurate slurry distribution could reduce ammonia emissions by up to 90%, and because all that extra nutrient goes into the ground it means farmers could slash fertiliser bills.

“Eighty-five per cent of ammonia emissions are down to agriculture, the biggest parts being livestock and birds and the use of urea-based fertilisers,” Professor Sutton says. “If you look at the ways we could reduce emissions, top of the list is the way manure and fertilisers are spread. It makes a big difference to total emissions and is relatively cheap to do.”

Why invest in better spreaders?

Ammonia emissions from farms are highly damaging. Runoff from fields causes algal blooms in ponds, suffocating aquatic life, and has a huge impact on wildlife. Airborne ammonia contributes to poor air quality, impacting human health, and kills the mosses and lichens that protect and renew peat bogs, which are the UK’s most important carbon store. However,

it is only recently that the science of the ammonia threat has become more publicly known.

“Now the problem is more widely recognised, we can make sure farmers and other stakeholders understand what they can do to tackle the issue,” says Professor Sutton, adding that a statement in the government’s new clean air strategy on regulating ammonia emissions indicates a new political willingness to take control of the problem.

Alternatives to the traditional muck spreader, known as a splashplate spreader, offer very substantial reductions in losses. Professor Sutton explains: “Alternatives to the splashplate have been available for decades, such as band spreading systems that put slurry out in nice neat rows, reducing the surface area, which we have found reduces emissions by about 30%.

“If you are a bit more ambitious, you can use a trailing shoe that puts it out under shelter of the leaves and keeps them clean, so emissions are about 60% less. If you are really ambitious, you can cut a slot in the soil and put it in there, which can gain about a 90% reduction.”

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PROFESSOR MARK SUTTON Environmental Physicist, NERC Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) The cost of the equipment has deterred adoption, however.

“For many years, the UK government has resisted banning splash-plate spreaders as farmer groups expressed concern about the costs. The Danish and Dutch banned them more than 20 years ago,” Professor Sutton says. “But farmers can actually see benefits because the cost of the spreading equipment can be set against the savings in the number of fertiliser bags they need to buy.”

Associate Director of Research at the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council, Ned Garnett, highlights how expert scientific evidence is vital to find solutions to environmental problems such as nitrogen pollution. He says: “NERC-funded science such as Professor Sutton’s world-leading research on the sources and impact of excess nitrogen in the environment enables the UK to make evidence-based actions to tackle this issue; from regulation and Government policy to the decisions made by farmers on the ground every day.”

Tackling a global issue Progress is also being made internationally, with a resolution on sustainable nitrogen management

adopted by the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi in March.

It recognises that 80% of agricultural reactive nitrogen is wasted globally, and that, on top of the damaging impacts of ammonia and nitrogen on air quality and climate, greenhouse gas nitrous oxide is the major threat to the ozone layer for the next century.

Professor Sutton points out that the global position is the same as that in British farms: saving the planet will result in economic savings too. “If you halve all the nitrogen emissions in the world, including all forms of wasted nitrogen, there would be a saving of $100bn a year in equivalent fertiliser value,” he says.

Byline: Chris Partridge

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