Westminster Summit To Set Out Radical 30:50:50 Vision For UK Farming

Westminster is preparing to debate a radical new strategy for the future of British farming, with policymakers, scientists and industry leaders set to gather in November to consider how the UK can boost food production by 30% while halving agriculture’s environmental footprint per unit of output by 2050.

The 30:50:50 Agri-Science Summit, hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture (APPGSTA), will be held in early November and chaired by former UK Science Minister George Freeman MP. The event marks the conclusion of a 10-month inquiry into how science and innovation can reshape farming for the decades ahead.

The APPGSTA’s ‘30:50:50 vision’ calls on government to adopt a bold, long-term strategy to increase domestic food production by 30% by 2050 while cutting farming’s environmental footprint per unit of output by half. MPs argue that Britain is “well-placed” to achieve these goals, citing its good soils, temperate climate, professional farming sector and world-class agri-science base.

However, the group warns of growing dependence on imports. Wheat imports are now at their highest level in almost 30 years, while the UK is on course to meet just 15% of its vegetable oil requirements this year – down from around 40% a decade ago.

At the centre of the summit will be the APPGSTA’s final report, drawing on evidence from more than 100 organisations and individuals. The report follows the launch of the 30:50:50 agenda earlier this year, which attracted widespread industry engagement and positive media coverage for its ambitious but simple framework for growth and sustainability.

Key challenges identified by the inquiry include slowing productivity growth, the loss of farmland, reliance on imports and regulatory systems that are viewed as over-precautionary and under-resourced. Witnesses also highlighted concerns that the UK’s research strengths are not translating into productivity gains on farms.

George Freeman said the urgency of food security and sustainability required “clear, long-term objectives” to help farmers produce “more from less”.

He continued: “Britain’s natural advantages, from good soils to a strong farming sector, give us the tools to lead in sustainable production. But UK agriculture today lacks clarity and consistency about its purpose. Current policies incentivise land being taken out of production, support lower-yielding practices and allow large-scale solar farms on productive land.

“Our over-precautionary and under-resourced regulatory processes are stifling access to farming innovations which are readily available to producers elsewhere. And while our agricultural scientists remain global leaders in academic terms, their research is no longer translating into domestic productivity growth at the practical farm level.

“Our dependence on imports in some sectors, including fresh produce, vegetable oil and protein crops, is at record highs.”

With government preparing its new farming roadmap, food strategy and land use framework, Freeman argued the 30:50:50 agenda offers “a coherent, outcomes-focused approach to reshaping food, agricultural and land use policies.”