In a speech to the Agrovista annual conference yesterday (January 16) entitled “Science – vital to British agriculture”, Mr Kendall warned that as inputs continue to get more expensive and scarce, science can help play a vital role in reducing farming’s dependence on these resources.

Mr Kendall said: “We cannot and should not rely on other countries to grow an endless supply of raw materials for us. Indeed, a report has just revealed China’s population is expanding faster than expected and will reach 1.5 billion by 2033, well in advance of previous estimates of 2050. There will be huge demands on the earth’s resources and science can help reduce these pressures without effecting yield, quality and safety.”

Climate change is a crucial issue and farmers are willing and able to make a positive contribution. Mr Kendall said: “The political and social focus must enable UK agriculture to innovate and meet new challenges such as climate change. Improving the efficiency and yields of biofuels is one opportunity in this area, and science holds many of the answers.”

ThePoultrySite News Desk