MP says scientists and farmers need to join forces

Anne McIntosh, MP for Thirsk and Malton, speaking at a weekend conference organised by Yorkshire universities told MPs, researchers, academics, business and civic leaders at the event at York University: “Agri technology and research are extremely important in North Yorkshire.

“The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) at Sand Hutton and the University of York will be major beneficaries of the Local Growth Fund, bringing both investment and new jobs to the area and elsewhere in North Yorkshire.”

Ms McIntosh, said the Government’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, which she chairs, has just published a report on food security.

“The UK is currently 68 per cent self sufficient in food which can be produced at home, but this key indicator has declined steadily over the past 20 years, from 87 per cent. The report says the biggest long-term challenge to food production systems is the impact of extreme weather resulting from climate change.”

One response, said Ms McIntosh, coould be sustainable intensification - increasing the global food supply while minimising negative consequences for the environment. “Yields in wheat, for instance, have not increased for 15 years,” she said.

“The Government should do more to inform the public about the potential beneficial impact of growing GM crops in the UK. It should encourage an edvidence-led public debate about GM crops and also counter food safety fears about the consumption of GM,” Ms McIntosh added.

The MP called for a longer lead time for research grants, currently at three years, saying they should be five years.

The bioeconomy involves the production of renewable biological resources and their conversion into food, feed, bio-based products and bioenergy.

Barry Dodd, chairman of the Local Enterprise Partnership for York and North Yorkshire, said: “We aim to get as much money as possible into our local economy and see it is spent wisely.”

The bioeconomy in the region could see 145,000 people employed in the long term, adding that it was potentially worth £12 billion to the region - 10 per cent of its economy.