DEFRA Minister Daniel Zeichner toured Harper Adams University’s campus with The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) and the UK Agri-Tech Centre yesterday to explore how education, research and technology development are shaping the future of the agri-food industry.
The Minister of State’s itinerary included a stop at the Future Farm, designed to integrate research and teaching priorities, followed by a visit to the UK Agri-Tech Centre’s Midlands Innovation Hub. There, he engaged with businesses leveraging cutting-edge facilities to refine and scale their technologies.
Following the tour, the Minister joined a working lunch with hosts and students, where discussions focused on key priorities such as agricultural R&D, skills development, education needs, the land use framework and broader agricultural policy within the UK.
Dr. Peter Quinn, Chairman of the UK Agri-Tech Centre, said:
“As the UK’s largest agri-tech-focused organisation, our mission is to fuel business growth and fast-track the adoption of agri-tech solutions that generate real-world impact.
We champion a thriving community of forward-thinking agri-tech businesses and take pride in contributing to their achievements.
It was a pleasure to introduce Minister Zeichner to companies like UPP, which is addressing labour shortages in broccoli harvesting, developing alternative protein products and creating new revenue opportunities by repurposing agricultural waste.”
Tess Howe, Head of Partnerships and Policy at TIAH, added:
“As agriculture encounters evolving challenges and new technologies, it is vital that farmers and growers acquire the skills necessary to stay resilient and innovative. Our upcoming Labour Market Information research underscores the critical competencies required for investing in and implementing technological advancements that will enhance business resilience and sector-wide growth.
Through effective collaboration, we can create an environment of knowledge-sharing that bridges skill gaps and equips all farmers and growers with the tools to succeed.”
Professor Ken Sloan, Vice-Chancellor of Harper Adams University, said:
“In my discussions with the Minister in Westminster, I stressed the crucial role that collaboration with external partners plays in the success of specialist institutions like Harper Adams.
We were therefore pleased to welcome him to our University, alongside our colleagues from TIAH and the UK Agri-Tech Centre, to highlight the strength of these relationships. His visit provided an opportunity to showcase our Future Farm, introduce him to our faculty and students and present some of our numerous research initiatives.”