A report commissioned by the UK Agri-Tech Centre has found that nearly one in three (32%) innovation and technology decision makers in UK agriculture and food businesses say that carbon emissions and greenhouse gases will be a major challenge for their business over the next five years. A third of business leaders in the sector (33%) also feel that implementing sustainable input sourcing will be a major challenge, followed by 28% who say adapting to climate change will be a significant challenge between now and 2029.
The report outlines the challenges the agri-food industries face as a result of overcoming the impacts of climate change and in meeting the UK government’s targets for cutting emissions by 2030. It also shines a light on how agri-tech innovation and technology solutions are needed to help the industry overcome critical issues including food security.
Technologies for sustainable production are top of the list of current technologies and future trends that agriculture and food industries businesses want to explore to support their business, with four in ten (40%) saying they want to explore opportunities for sustainable production technologies. One in five (21%) in the sector are keen to explore Net-Zero technologies, and a further 21% are interested in circular economy technologies.
Overall, four in ten (40%) agri-industries businesses say it is a business priority to become more sustainable in the next five years, and one in four (25%) say it’s a priority to implement measures to adapt to climate change.
There is a raft of existing and emerging agri-tech solutions that are being designed and developed to drive more sustainable food production, including vertical farming, biotechnologies, zero tillage, robotics and automation, and more efficient waste management solutions.
UK Agri-Tech Centre CEO Phil Bicknell, said: “The sector’s innovation and technology leaders recognise how agri-tech can unlock solutions to climate change, food security and sustainability challenges facing the agriculture and food sector. Improving sustainability is at the heart of many agri-tech developers’ missions. Agri-tech businesses are pioneering and rolling out technologies and tools for reducing emissions and waste, driving more sustainable inputs and processes, and building resilient systems to improve our food security.
“At the UK Agri-Tech Centre, we are strengthening the connections between science, businesses and funders to accelerate research and development that overcomes the agri-food industry’s most critical challenges, including climate change and sustainability. We believe that responsible agri-tech innovation can ultimately secure the UK’s future supply of food, fuel and fibres and stimulate economic growth.”
