For those of you who have visited London’s Science Museum in recent years and seen the agricultural gallery, I'm quite sure you won't be shedding a tear when you hear that it finally closed its doors to the public at the end of 2016.
I was reminded when visiting museum staff earlier this week that it was opened in 1951 - the year the BBC started broadcasting The Archers! That speaks volumes in itself. For many it has been seen as a quaint, but outdated, and some would even go as far as to say embarrassing, vision of an industry many no longer recognise. It certainly didn't serve to inspire a new generation of would-be farmers and growers or do much to bust public misconceptions of what modern farming is about.
The good news is that we can expect a brand new agriculture exhibit at the Museum, provisionally called ‘Feeding Tomorrow’ which is due to open at the end of 2018.
Farmers and growers are natural innovators and have been for centuries. This new installation is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the very best of the technology and innovation that shapes modern agriculture today as opposed to a snapshot from over 60 years ago. It's also a chance to gaze into the crystal ball and anticipate the likely game changing technologies we'll need in the future to support a productive, progressive and sustainable sector.
That's why I'm thrilled that the NFU is part of the small external stakeholder group and for nearly two years has been actively working with the Science Museum team to help provide a sounding board and sources of information for the new exhibit. Their enthusiasm for the project is enormously encouraging and I think the sheer complexity and multifaceted nature of our industry and how science and innovation touches every aspect and every sector has really challenged and excited them - perhaps more so than many other projects. How do you capture innovative farming in way that is meaningful to visitors who may only spend a matter of a few minutes in the gallery but also avoids the trap of dumbing down?
The gallery itself is set to be in a prominent position near the entrance to the Museum and will focus on the four broad themes of:
- Working the land and preserving vulnerable soils
- Controlling pests, weeds and diseases and leaving space for wildlife
- Raising animals for meat, milk and eggs and ensuring healthy lives
- Giving plants and animals the best conditions to grow and adapting to climate change
So far the museum has received some initial funding from the BBSRC to kick start the work, but is now in the process of raising further financial support to cover the remainder of the £3 million project. It will have a lifetime of a minimum of five years in order to stay fresh and relevant and I'm reliably informed that the "exciting bit is about to start" with the designers soon to be appointed. Our very own NFU Feeding the Future report has already been shared with the museum staff, who seem to have an insatiable appetite for, and genuine interest in, learning more about what we do and how we do it.
This couldn't come at a better time for the NFU as we continue to develop and promote a new domestic agricultural policy built on the three crucial cornerstones of addressing productivity, volatility and the environment. Science underpins all these areas in some shape or form and we have a great story to tell the staggering 3.5 million visitors who pass through the museum’s door each year.