DEFRA Minister Daniel Zeichner toured Harper Adams University’s campus with The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) and the UK Agri-Tech Centre recently 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.”
