All-party parliamentary group meeting on Science and Technology in Agriculture sees Mark Spencer MP elected as new chair.
Speaking of his time as Chair, George Freeman MP said,
“It has been a great privilege to serve as Chair of the APPG over the last four years in what has been a particularly busy time for the Group, and for the agri-science sector as a whole. I’m particularly proud that we have managed to influence Government to the extent that we have, culminating in the launch of the Industrial Strategy for Agri-Tech with its strong endorsement of Agri Science and Technology.”
The meeting
The Group's programme of work was established to support the implementation of the Government’s Agri-Tech Strategy, by exploring ways to build better public engagement, understanding and acceptance of the use of technology and innovation in farming and food production. Previous meetings have highlighted the role of the media and food retailers as key factors influencing consumer attitudes towards the use of science and technology in agriculture.
Two high-profile guest speakers representing these two sectors were welcomed to discuss and explore this issue with Members and stakeholders of the Group.
- Tom Heap, broadcast journalist and BBC Countryfile presenter, provided an insight into how media coverage of agri-science issues has evolved in recent years.
- Andrew Opie, Food Policy Director at the British Retail Consortium, considered the supermarkets’ role in both shaping and responding to consumer attitudes.