A wide-ranging report on how cutting-edge technology can boost farming has received a timely boost ahead of a key vote next week in the European Parliament.
The report by Conservative MEP Anthea McIntyre, which has already been backed by the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee received a strong endorsement from the Agri-Food Chain Coalition at a debate in Brussels.
The coalition welcomed the initiative and called for consistent EU policies to unlock the potential of innovation in Europe’s agri-food sector to maintain its position as a world leader.
Miss McIntyre, Conservative MEP for the West Midlands, told the debate that competitiveness, economic growth and jobs were the potential benefits of an innovation-friendly and supportive political and regulatory environment in Europe.
Her report - titled Technical solutions for sustainable agriculture, - covers a range of areas where effective harnessing of innovation will boost productivity while protecting the environment and biodiversity.
It considers applied research, precision farming, genetic diversity, precision breeding, plant protection, skills and better-regulation.
She said: "Farmers are the major stewards of our environment.
"They need continued access to innovation, to new technology and to research in order to produce food in a sustainable way so that we can both feed the world and protect the environment for future generations.
"The EU and the Member States, academia and industry, breeders, the agro-chemicals sector, farmers and food manufacturers must all work together to improve the translation of research into practice. From lab to farm to fork.
"This will unlock a new phase in agricultural innovation in Europe."
Miss McIntyre will make a presentation on her report to the parliament in Strasbourg on Monday, followed by a vote later in the week.
