British agricultural exports of crops to the EU have continued to shrink in the five years since Brexit, according to analysis of HM Revenue & Customs data by the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) — and as trade talks with Brussels unfold, farmers and industry leaders are urging the government not to sacrifice hard-won advances in plant innovation, particularly gene-editing, in pursuit of a deal. Overall farm exports to the EU fell by 37.4 per cent between 2019, the last full ye

British potato growers are sounding the alarm as demand for one of the nation’s staple crops dips, with many producers pointing the finger at evolving consumer behaviour driven by weight-loss injections and health-conscious eating. According to industry reports, orders from supermarkets, food manufacturers and fish and chip shops have fallen by up to 10 per cent compared with the same time last year — a significant reversal after the surge in home cooking seen during the pan

The UK has officially eradicated the Colorado Beetle following two years of intensive surveillance and biosecurity activity. The pest was detected in Kent in July 2023, with one further finding later that year. Since then, no additional beetles have been identified, allowing Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to confirm eradication status. The Colorado potato beetle can rapidly strip foliage from potato crops and also affects tomatoes, aubergines and peppers,

A cross-party report from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA Committee) has warned that any future sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement between the UK and the European Union must avoid disadvantaging UK agriculture and meat businesses, while calling for clear public communication and robust parliamentary scrutiny of any regulatory changes. The Committee says an SPS agreement could deliver significant benefits for consumers, farmers and producers by