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Secretary of State for International Trade's visit underlines the strength of British farming

Posted 2 November 2022

Secretary of State for International Trade Kemi Badenoch has been welcomed to 91Pro with a  visit underlining the strength of British farming – both at home and abroad.

The Secretary of State spoke this morning at the NFU Dairy Export Summit, which was held jointly with the Department for International Trade and hosted on the Harper Adams campus.

The summit offered an opportunity for key industry representatives to discuss what is needed to both tackle challenges and make the most of opportunities for British dairy exports.

During a packed morning, the Secretary of State also met with 91Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Ken Sloan.

He said: “I am delighted that NFU chose our University to host the Dairy Export Summit – a particularly fitting event to hold during

“The summit offered a chance to chat with dairy producers, export and foreign investment managers and NFU colleagues.

“It was significant, too, that the Secretary of State’s visit coincided with , a campaign led by NFU – who are a founding partner in the University’s , the first of its kind in the UK.”

Following her appearance at the summit, Professor Sloan discussed the work of the University’s academics and alumni with the Secretary of State, sharing with her the impact they are having both in the UK and across the globe.

He added: “We discussed the development of our exemplar Future Farm, hosting vital research projects including those being carried at our Agri-EPI precision dairy, where we work with industry to undertake high-tech research into the behaviour of our cows.

“I explained how our internationally-renowned Hands Free Farm, the first of its kind in the world, will extend its work into strip cropping.

“Fittingly, we also discussed the ongoing contribution that our researcher Daniel May and his colleagues are making with the AHDB to evaluate a series of trade agreements – with work on the agreements with Australia and New Zealand already published.

 “We have one of the world’s most productive, innovative and environmentally-concerned farming sectors, and it is vital that we back it and support it both home and abroad. 

“The University’s commitment to British Farming is without question.

“It was, therefore, pleasing to hear the Secretary of State confirm her commitment to the success of the farming industry and the investments she is making to support its export ambitions.”