Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure British farmers remain globally competitive.

The Government is committed to encouraging a thriving, innovative, and globally competitive farming sector where farms can be profitable and environmentally sustainable without subsidy.

In addition, the Government is supporting investment in productivity-boosting equipment, technology, and infrastructure. The Farming Investment Fund opened in November 2021 and provides grants to farmers, foresters, and growers (including contractors to these sectors) that will help their businesses to prosper.

Innovation also ensures British farmers remain globally competitive. Through our £270 million Farming Innovation Programme, farmers and growers in England can apply for funding to develop new, innovative methods and technologies. Amongst others, we are funding projects to develop robots that can pick fruit, vertical farms, and new ways to process slurry to convert it into fertiliser.