Having grown up in East Anglia and spent much of my childhood on my stepfather’s farm, previously worked for the NFU and formerly been the Minister for Life Sciences (helping to spearhead the UK’s new Agri-Tech strategy in 2015), I know first-hand how vitally important our crucial farming sector is to the UK, and how new technologies and opportunities are transforming, and have further potential to transform, the industry going forward.

That’s why I was delighted to be involved in Norfolk Farming Conference today – speaking to via video clip to those gathered about Agri-Tech and the enormous opportunities this exciting and fast-growing field will provide, and already provides, to the farming sector. 

(To see the full video message I sent to attendees, please see below or click here)

Norfolk is already at the heart of this Green Revolution, playing a prominent role within the UK’s growing leadership in the Agri-Tech field. The Norwich Research Park, with the likes of the John Innes Centre, Earlham Institute and Centrum, is pioneering cutting-edge, world class science – as are several other sites in our region, including the Easton Food Hub.

I am determined to do all I can, as a local MP but also now in my role as Minister of State for Science, Research, Technology and Innovation, to support those advances which will not only deliver growth for UK plc, boost UK farming and transform farming and food production globally, but also create thousands of new jobs and opportunities in our area – jobs and opportunities that will spread help prosperity to our local towns and villages and in turn breathe more vibrancy into our local services and communities. I am committed to doing all I can to help our local education system make the most of these fantastic opportunities so that our youngsters or those that wish to retrain can make the most of them too.

To learn more about Norfolk’s Innovation Economy, please click here

To learn more about all of my work to support our local farmers and food producers (including on issues like the current Bird Flu outbreak and local labour market shortages), please click here

I am deeply passionate about our local farming sector and look forward to continuing my work with them in the weeks, months and years ahead.