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

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase scientific research into (1) organic, (2) biodynamic, (3) permaculture, and (4) aquaculture, methods of food production, and their potential benefits for public health

Defra's agri-food evidence programme supports the productivity, environmental sustainability, risks and trade-offs of farming systems.

Defra's research portfolio includes: examination of sustainable, agro-ecological, and organic food systems; investigating securing future food and nutrient supply, while also responding to consumer demand for a diverse, healthy, safe, and attractive diet. Research also explores future innovation possibilities for sustainable food production, including integrated fish production techniques, controlled environment horticulture technology, in conjunction with permaculture and agroforestry approaches; and aquaculture systems.

The Seafood Innovation Fund, part of the £100 million UK Seafood Fund, was set up to support the long-term future and sustainability of the UK fisheries and seafood sector. It funds various innovative projects, ideas and technologies in fisheries and aquaculture where research on reducing public health risk and the potential benefit for human health is within scope.

Defra partners with UK Research & Innovation which leads the 'Transforming the UK Food System Programme'. This £47.5 million research programme supports a food system which places healthy people and a healthy natural environment at its centre, considering the complex interactions between health, environment and socioeconomic factors.

Additionally, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, part of UK Research & Innovation, also has a long-term strategic commitment to supporting bioscience for sustainable agriculture and food, delivering more productive, healthy, resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems.