Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP visits Rural Innovation Centre

The Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, paid a visit to the Royal Agricultural University’s (RAU) Rural Innovation Centre (RIC) at Harnhill Manor Farm on Thursday 11 February.

The purpose of the visit was to introduce the Minister to the RAU, and most importantly its students, and to discuss key matters of farming, food and land management. Elizabeth Truss MP met a range of staff, including Professor Chris Gaskell, Vice-Chancellor of the RAU, and the Deans of our four academic schools.

Discussions focused on attracting young people, particularly women, into agriculture and food as a career, recognising the attraction of an industry that is increasingly ‘high tech’. The opportunities created by apprenticeships, and the need for innovators and entrepreneurs in the industry were also highlighted, recognising that DEFRA’s Farm and Food Plan will require skilled people for its delivery.

The increasing range of practically-based RAU courses, together with the partnership of the university with GFirst Gloucestershire Local Enterprise partnership (LEP) were discussed as examples of how this can be done. The development of the Farm491 LEP project at the RIC will provide support and facilities for agri tech start-up businesses that will meet the needs of the industry in the future.

The Minister then met with a group of students from a range of courses across the University, and talked specifically about what attracted them to agriculture and the related industries. She was also keen to hear their thoughts on the impact of technology on farming, rural business diversification, and the part that DEFRA should play.

RAU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chris Gaskell, said: “It was really good to welcome the Secretary of State to the RAU; and particularly to the Rural Innovation Centre. The RIC encapsulates everything we are about – education and skills, not only for our students but the wider community, on-farm research and development, and increasingly, in partnership with others such as GFirst LEP, providing opportunities for new businesses in what is an increasingly exciting agricultural industry.”