Future of Farming Q4 Dec-2019 by Mediaplanet UK&IE

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A new generation of the UK farming industry As the UK is on the cusp of great change, the agricultural community is one of the industries that will be most affected. We need to look at the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

he All Party Parliamentary G roup for F a r m i n g w a s established precisely because of the need for the farming industry – as a whole – to be recognised as a holistic, complex and significant sector of the UK economy. This is now especially crucial as Brexit looms large, bringing uncertainty and many challenges to a once secure and protected industry. Balancing public good and protecting the environment Within the Group, we are looking to do more than simply increase production of food. These days, our consideration is far broader – the environment in which we are producing food must be protected a nd en ha nce d for t he g reater public good. In fact, protecting and enhancing the environment are now priorities. This contrasts with the earlier decades of UK participation in the Common Agricultural Policy,

where i nc re a s i n g pro duc t ion of most com mod it ies was t he primary objective. The influence of regulation Another consideration is the pattern of t rade beyond t he Europea n Union. In short, this is, in part, influenced by regulatory agendas – including animal health, attitudes to new technologies and other sometimes obscure protectionist measures – and, as Brexit moves to the next phase, the leveraging of trade interests. The implementation of the Agriculture Bill The Agriculture Bill has been going through Parliament, but its ultimate fate will be determined by the outcome of the General Election. The Group has already commented on the Bill, which is, largely, an enabling measure with a raft of

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secondary legislation anticipated, but this measure cannot be taken in isolation from other steps, including trade negotiations. The question of productivity At least three themes must be developed. Firstly, there is the question of productivity and, by extension, skills and training, and the deployment of technology. At its most basic, increased productivity would be measured by profit but a more sophisticated approach will be around striking the balance between output of consumables and impact on climate change. Here, new technologies are bound to play a part, either way. So, too, will the age profile and agility of the workforce. The future EU/UK relationship Second, trade policy. Questions already abound about the future relationship between the UK and

NEIL CARMICHAEL Former Member of Parliament, Farmer and Senior Adviser, APPG Farming

The environment in which we are producing food must be protected and enhanced for the greater public good. In fact, protecting and enhancing the environment are now priorities. the EU but, just as important, will be the demands of other economic blocks as agricultural produce is set against manufactured goods, services and, perhaps surprisingly, immigration policy. Supporting local produce Third, local markets and the ‘farmer in the community’. In recent years, there has been a huge boom in locally grown food and drink – real ales and ciders have taken off – and a we’ve seen consumers take greater interest in ‘the local farmer’. Policy will

need to take this aspect of farming into account and, simultaneously, provide a framework for quality food at reasonable prices. One thing is certain – everything i s u ncer t a i n. Th i s i s why we need more understanding across government and, above all, by consumers of this industry, that is of f undamenta l impor tance to society.

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“Accelerating technological development means that farmers and growers stand on the cusp of another revolution, which could potentially transform productivity.” – Dr Bill Parker, Research Director, AHDB

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Technology could unlock British farmland’s full potential DR BILL PARKER Research Director, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)

As environmental and social pressures continue to rise, the productive future of British farming and growing could lie with shared data and technology.

arnessing the power of data and inspiring farming busi nesses to measu re performance is one of the primary factors identified by the Agricultural P r o d u c t i v it y Wo r k i n g G r o u p (APGW), as a means to improve UK farming productivity. A cultural shift in the use of data in farm management The power of data, when combined with knowledge and skill, enables farmers and growers to measure performance and compare between farms. This allows for simple key performance indicators (KPIs) to be established and for policy incentives to promote data capture. However, that must be supported by a culture change across the industry and a shared understanding of the benefits for farm businesses of data collection and its use for management. Moving to the future, supported by large volumes of data, the ability to interpret and harness its power quickly will lie with technology, namely software. Data can help farmers plan crop yields with field-by-field insight O n e o f t he m o s t r e c e nt a n d important developments to support farmers and growers to collect data from the land is the conversion of AHDB’s Nutrient Management Guide (RB209) to data for software. This will allow farmers and growers to create a bespoke planting plan for each field and for each crop. While it may not seem exciting, it is impor tant due to Br itain having a huge variety of different soil types and growing conditions – monitoring performance field-byfield using data will enable farmers and growers to decide whether to save or apply fertiliser, manures or slurry to maximise growth. If data gathered on farms can be shared in the future, powerful comparisons could be made

and growers stand on the cusp of another revolution, which could potentially transform productivity. Climate change is regularly in the headlines, yet for farmers and growers, this change brings with it the threat of new pests, weeds and diseases. As the ability to use chemicals to protect crops reduces, new technology must help to fill the gap. Automated weed-killing robot AHDB has supported research trials of a new, automated weed-killing robot, which has reduced herbicide usage on crops by up to 95%. The new eyeSpot robot uses cameras to identify weeds in vegetable fields. Targeting weeds individually, it applies precise herbicide droplets with an ejector, which accurately fires treatment to the individual leaves of each weed. Although the technology has not yet been released to market, it is an example of precision agriculture in action. The robot has significantly reduced the use of herbicides, while practically eliminating any harm to non-target organisms. Increased productivity through use of big data Supporting the use of big data in far m ing, imager y capt ured by eyeSpot also has the potential to be used for the observation of growth rates, enabling accurate scheduling of operations, early yield estimates and the detection of crop stress. While it would be naïve to say that the future of farming could be solved with two developments, t hey g ive i n sight i nto t he direction the industry could take, where investment in innovative te ch nolog y, sk i l l s to s upp or t industry’s uptake of new solutions and collaboration could be the key to increasing ag r ic u lt ura l productivity.

Accelerating technolog ical development means that farmers

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Productivity - Britain’s key to accessing global markets TOM HIND Chief Strategy Officer, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)

While our industry has tremendous strengths and some world-class farmers, overall productivity growth in UK agriculture lags behind that of many of our major competitors. This undermines our industry’s ability to compete in a more globalised market.

e a r e n o w e nt e r i n g a period when t he spotlight on this has i nte n s i f ie d . Key a g r ic u lt u r a l st a keholders have made t hei r c om m it m e nt t o h it n e t z e r o emissions by 2040. Put simply, to achieve this while maintaining output w i l l require a massive change in productivity. Productivity is measured by efficiency Productivity is defined as a measure of how efficient ly resources – including our natural resources – are converted to outputs. For a g r ic u lt u r e a nd hor t ic u lt u r e this translates to the ability to deliver globally against consumer expectations, while adding value to the economy. In turn, this reduces environmental impacts. The biggest question is how we, as an industry, can overcome low productivity together. R e c e n t l y, i n d u s t r y a n d government have come together under the auspices of the Food and Drink Sector Council to identify the steps that we can take together. This work has identified five high-level recommendations to achieving a step change in productivity growth. More data is needed to drive progress Firstly, there is a fundamental need for UK agriculture to become more data driven and establish trust around data sharing and use. In doing this, there is also a need to drive business benchmarking using key agricultural performance indicators. It’s a simple fact that you manage what you measure.

To help the industry achieve the zero carbon ambition, electrification of heavy farm machinery must be facilitated. Shared knowledge and collaboration are key Secondly, we know that farmers learn best from other farmers. While the opportunity to learn i s i mp r ov i n g, f r a g m e nt at io n in the way the countr y passes on knowledge still remains. By increasing cohesion, best practice c a n b e e a s i l y sh a r e d , w h ic h could in turn change behaviours on farms. This style of working is recom mended a nd mu st be supported going forwards. Government and industry must collaborate on innovation In novat ion helps to d r ive t he frontier of technical efficiency for w a rd a nd i s a n i mp or t a nt long-term driver of productivity growth. But uptake is slow and industry’s role in determining the key funding priorities is patchy. So, thirdly, the future will need business leaders and government to work together strategically to determine innovation priorities. Upskilling the workforce Skills development is the fourth area of focus to increase productivity. In 2013, only 18% of farm managers in England had full agricultural training, with 61% relying solely on practical experience. The industry has no single register of training organisations, or a central record of qualifications awarded. In order

to change this, a central institute to serve as the home of professional development for training in England has been suggested, with other initiatives to support continuous learning and help train the next generation of farmers and growers. Improved infrastructure and policy The fifth and final recommendation emphasises the need for i n f r a s t r u c t u r e a nd p ol ic y t o enable productivity gains both in terms of the wider economy and on farms. High capacity data flow is fundamental to artificial intelligence, an essential component of future high productivity farming and growing. To help the industry achieve the zero carbon ambition, electrification of heav y farm machinery must be faci litated. Nat ionw ide reinforcement of rural electricity infrastructure, including buffer battery storage systems, will be essential to deliver the required electrical flow for ‘smart charging’ of multiple high capacity batteries at times of peak activity in the farming calendar. W h i le t he r e i s mu c h m or e detail that under pins the recommendations, they provide a focus to support the development of new strateg ies and funding partnerships. Now the challenge is for the industry to galvanise suppor t a nd work toget her to increase productivity. MEDIAPLANET

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Why retailers should commit to buying British To protect the future of the UK farming industry, retailers should implement a variety of safeguarding strategies, including making a commitment to sourcing British produce.

ritish farmers are passionate about the food they produce and keen to ensure they safeguard its reputation for quality. Yet these are uncertain times for the sector, says Caroline Mason, Head of Agriculture at the Co-op. So it’s crucial that retailers commit to supporting farmers in any way they can, but particularly by sourcing own-brand British meat, produce, dairy products, plants and flowers from the UK. “In this country, the food that we produce, and the standards to which we produce it, are globally leading,” she says. “British farmers worry about those standards being compromised. The more we can feed this nation with home-produced food, the better it is for our economy and the health and wellbeing of society. A viable agricultural sector is essential to feed our growing population. We really put our money where our mouth is. In 2017, we switched all of our fresh meat to 100% British. It was a move that was received incredibly positively by the farming fraternity, as you would expect. It was a huge show of commitment from us, to them.” “But it a lso means t he hard work that our farmers put into growing and producing has a place in the domestic market.” Retailers have to stand firm and commit to supporting British, insists Mason — but so do consumers. Thankfully, UK consumers seem to be taking MEDIAPLANET

the ‘buy British’ message on board. “I nc re a s i n g ly, t hey ’re a sk i n g questions about their own diet and wanting to know where their food comes from,” says Mason. “They’re also thinking about their carbon footprints. As retailers, we can’t ignore those concerns.” Strategies to safeguard British farming The problem, of course, is that we’re all used to getting the food we want, whenever we want it. So, how realistic is it to only buy, say, British fruit and veg? “We have to remember that there’s a solid six months of the year in this country where we can grow home-produced produce — apart from bananas, citrus fruit and some of the more exotic varieties,” says Mason. Retailers can help protect British farming in other ways, says Mason, for exa mple t he compa ny has extended the seasons of 15 different fr uit and veg produce lines in the past two years as a result of long-term contracts with growers. Investing in the growers and producers of the future Retailers can also champion the industry by supporting educational activ ities about ag riculture in schools, putting their name to events such as LEAF’s Open Farm Sunday, and even offering farmers

CAROLINE MASON Head of Agriculture, Co-op

Thankfully, UK consumers seem to be taking the ‘buy British’ message on board. “Increasingly, they’re asking questions about their own diet and wanting to know where their food comes from,” says Mason. “They’re also thinking about their carbon footprints. As retailers, we can’t ignore those concerns. business and development courses. “F or e x a mple, we’re r u n n i n g p r o g r a m m e s t o t e a c h yo u n g farmers wider business skills, from lean management to succession planning,” says Mason. “The idea is to invest in the next farming generation because they’re the growers and producers of the future who will drive the industry forward. They need to know about succession plan n ing, business resi l ience, supply chain integration and also mental health which we know can be a huge issue for those working in agriculture.” Andy Venables from Macclesfield w a s one of t he orga n i s at ion s cohort of the Farming Pioneers programme. He said “it has enabled me to make changes within the business to create a more efficient, forward thinking business.[The programme is] upskilling today’s generation of farmers, but also futureproofing agriculture and breathing new life into a profession that many, certainly our consumers, may not always understand.”

About Co-op

But farmers — who have always been very good at working hard, quietly, behind-the-scenes — also have to help themselves by being more vocal about what they do. Thankfully, this is beginning to happen. “Farmers are recognising that it’s okay to be more visible through, for example, social media platforms,” says Mason. “Many are talking to the public about their work and how proud they are to be part of the industry.” The future for British farming could be bright, insists Mason. “With the right leadership and with collaboration from across the industry, we have the ability to set this country up for generations and produce globally leading, high quality, affordable, sustainable, safe food.” she says. “With the right strategies, retailers can make a difference and drive change. And that’s exciting.”

Since the Co-op’s inception in 1844 it has been sourcing goods from right across the UK and today, more than ever, it continues to be a major supporter of British agriculture. In 2017 it went further than any other retailer by switching all of its own-brand fresh meat to 100% British as part of a £2.5bn investment programme dedicated to sourcing homegrown meat, produce and dairy. More information can be found online in the Co-op’s Best of British Report.

coop.co.uk/ our-suppliers/farmers

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How farms balance the needs of machines and staff JILL HEWITT Incoming Chief Executive Officer, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)

As we teeter on the edge of a technological agricultural revolution, with massive challenges of feeding an increasing population in a sustainable way, it is time to take a long, hard look at how farms are managing both machinery and staff.

substantial number of farms have excess machinery in their inventory and, as we move into a (possible) post-Brexit era with a declining single farm payment, there will no longer be the option to hold extra kit or staffing capacity. Streamlining will be vital to drive profitability and survival. Environmental conscience will be a source of farm income At the same time, soil management, biodiversit y and ‘public money for public goods’ are all now intertwining into farm management and an environmental conscience will not only be a moral responsibility but will be a source of farm income. O ut sou rc i ng i s i nc rea si ng ly becoming a route to minimising capital outlay and coping with the headache of finding reliable staff. With over 90% of farms already using a contractor, it will become increasingly important that land managers and contractors work toget her to bu i ld s u s t a i n able partnerships for everyone’s benefit. If a good relationship can be built with a professional contractor, this can empower the farm business to focus on internal str ucture and rationalisation, leaving the

contractor to focus on providing a reliable and innovative service, tak ing pressure off farm time and overheads. Implementing innovative advancements to access expert services E xcess capita l cost s ca n be rapidly swept out of the business, particularly for specialist operations that can leave kit stood idle for months off-season. In addition, innovative, technical advances can be fast-tracked, with boundless options to access expert services that can assist in soil protection, environmental management and reduction of inputs. To engage in this sustainable and professional model it takes t he com m it ment of bot h land managers and contractors to agree a sensible pricing structure that allows the contractor to achieve longevity and investment in the business, while being able to offer the customer a timely ser vice, w it h t he necessar y insurance and safeguards – providing both partners permanence and security to invest. Find out more at: www.naac.co.uk

Animal welfare must be part of the sustainability conversation SIMON DOHERTY Senior Vice President, British Veterinary Association (BVA)

The UN predict global consumption of animal-derived foods will double by 2050. Meanwhile, agriculture, forestry and other land use account for 23% of manmade greenhouse gas emissions*. The need for more environmentally-friendly ways of working has never been greater.

armers have been working towards improv ing t he sustainabi lit y of t heir enterprises for many years. The issue is one that generates a great de a l of d i sc u s sion ac ro s s t he agricultural community. Improv ing efficiency w it hin herds, using fewer antibiotics and careful use of natural resources are recognised as important areas for improvement, but how can we make sure that animal health and welfare are maintained – or improved – as we move towards more sustainable production systems? T h i s ye a r, BVA l au n c h e d a position on UK sustainable animal agriculture; looking at how animal health and welfare can be kept frontof-mind in plans for future farming and how vets can work with farmers to cont r ibute to t he l ivestock sustainability agenda in the UK. Being green and caring for your animals Veter i n a r ia n s pl ay a key role ‘from farm to fork’ and are in a prime position to advise on ways of work i n g t h at del iver b ot h environmental benefits and improve the lives of the animals within the production system. BVA’s new position specifically recommends that animal welfare is not compromised to address human need, drive production or reduce the ecological footprint of animal agriculture.

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Farmers and vets need to work together to create meaningful farm health plans to help prevent and control disease and drive improved productivity, while maximising welfare. An example of this would be in how we embrace novel technologies to mon itor an imal healt h and welfare, in ‘the right way’. While recognising the potential impact of innovation, BVA suggests that automated systems should not replace skilled farmers and ve t e r i n a r y p r o fe s s io n a l s b u t combine the skillsets of those groups of people working collaboratively. Back-to-basics animal husbandry is key to keeping healthier and h appier a n i m a l s t h at w i l l b e more productive, and automated technology can play a useful role in helping us to achieve that. In turn, this will lead to lower a nt ibiot ic a nd lower l i fet i me greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in reduced environmental impact. How does this work in practice? Farmers and vets need to work toget her to create meaning f ul farm health plans to help prevent a nd cont rol d isease a nd d r ive i mprove d pro duc t iv it y, wh i le maximising welfare. The vet-farmer relationship is at the core of all of this – if we can work together to plan for and create

solutions to problems before they happen, we can create a farming landscape that is more efficient, has less of an impact on natural resources and the environment and has high animal welfare at its core. * C limate change and the land (2019), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

About Simon Doherty Simon Doherty, Senior Vice President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), is based at the Institute of Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast. He is a former Animal Science & Aquaculture Specialist to the UK Government Department for International Trade (DIT) and has a keen interest in One Health and is an advocate of sustainable animal agriculture. BVA recently published a position on UK Sustainable Animal Agriculture. MEDIAPLANET

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Tractor innovation using waste methane as fuel

Tractor technology has come a long way over the last 100 years. Farmers want to ensure that the hours they spend on the land are as efficient as possible, that their tractors are comfortable and, where necessary, utilise the latest technology.

he market for agricultural machiner y is constantly evolving, as the needs of society and British farmers change. When it comes to tractors, manufacturers are under pressure to innovate and find solutions to improve comfort, but at the same time, efficiency, health and safety and sustainability. Farmers want to ensure that the hours they spend on the land are as efficient as possible, that their tractors are comfortable and, where necessary, utilise the latest technology. Improvements to tractor design Improving comfort has been a priority for the industry for years, and tractors have moved on from m i n i m a l prote c t ion f rom t he elements, to providing climate-controlled and suspended operator environments. “There are several times during the year when a farmer will spend more time on their tractor

than they will at home,” says New Holland Marketing Manager, UK and Republic of Ireland, Mark Crosby. Product in novation over t he decades has also reduced noise and vibration levels and improved safety. For example, in 2018, new European rules called the Tractor Mother Reg u lat ion s were i nt ro duce d, covering important areas such as braking and lighting requirements. New technological features There have also been technological advances in how tractors and other machines are powered. Incredibly, many models now include a stateof-the-art dashboard providing data analytics, GPS mapping and remote sensing. “We have seen increasing use of electronics on our tractors since the 1980s but we are entering a new generation of innovation, to include autonomy and connectivity, to help farmers do their job more efficiently and to reduce fatigue,” says Crosby.

Farmers want to ensure that the hours they spend on the land are as efficient as possible, that their tractors are comfortable. MEDIAPLANET

MARK CROSBY Marketing Manager, New Holland

We are entering a new generation of innovation, to include autonomy and connectivity, to help farmers do their job more efficiently and to reduce fatigue. Environmental considerations Some compan ies are pr ior itising alternative fuel technolog y and focussing on sustainability. New Holland, for example, has a clean energy strategy and its first methane power tractor prototype was unveiled in 2013. Their methane-powered Concept tractor has a si x-cylinder N EF methane engine, which delivers the same power and torque as a standard diesel version. Running costs are reduced by around one third and noise levels are cut in half. The methane-powered version also lowers CO2 emissions by 10% and reduces overall emissions by about 80% compared to a diesel tractor. Methane is no longer a waste product “This is a very exciting concept because many of our customers have a supply of methane which is usually deemed to be a waste product, but now they can fuel their tractor,”

About New Holland

says Crosby. “We are currently in part-production and running pilots. We plan to go live officially in 2020 with a select number of units, and start mass production, in 2021.” The new generation of farmers New Holland’s investment in new technology also includes an automation system which improves harvesting in difficult conditions. “This technology means a novice can sit in the seat and still achieve the best results if the right parameters are set correctly.” “The new generation of farmers and farming advisers is driving the changes we are seeing around innovation and sustainability,” says Crosby. “The challenge is to keep finding the solutions the industry needs.”

New Holland is the only tractor company manufacturing on a mass scale in the UK. One of the most famous names in British manufacturing, New Holland has been a world leader in tractor engineering for 125 years. It was founded in 1895 by Abe Zimmerman in New Holland Pennsylvania, USA and is now part of CNH Industrial. Its plant today is based in Basildon, Essex which has been producing tractors for both local and global markets since 1964. To find out more about the plant please visit.

www.newholland.com