The 'Farming Innovation Programme' is funding research and development projects to help farmers and growers produce food more sustainably.
Up to £30m has been awarded to cutting-edge farming projects that are intended to help boost food production, move towards net zero and create a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.
The projects announced today include:
• Ground-breaking genetics research projects which could reduce methane emissions in cattle by 17 per cent per generation and produce a reliable UK-grown protein source that can replace soya in human foods.
• Investigations into the use of drones and artificial intelligence to inspect and monitor animals to enable farmers to take action should animals go missing or need attention.
• Efforts to develop biopesticides using fungal strains that help tackle pests in wheat crops, and to pin-point the genetics for creating slug-resistant wheat.
Alongside the £30m to be awarded to more...