“Growing less food per acre is leaving less land for nature.” Nobel Peace Prize laureate Norman Borlaug, 1970

Chinese scientists have developed a gene-editing technique to reduce corn plant height, enabling the creation of compact, lodging resistant varieties more suited to high density planting, a key strategy for producing more from the same area of land.

"Kennedy is a threat to America’s farmers and our food security. Instead, we deserve someone who is committed to results-based agriculture founded in science, to the continued advance of innovation, and to a prosperous, food-secure future for all."

“We need to be able to use whatever tools possible to tackle disease, climate change and all the challenges we face as a society. It’s on the radar, which is positive, but as a scientist and a stakeholder, a clearer signal or timeline would be welcome.”

Great news. New report from @NatureScot says the majority of Scotland's breeding bird populations have increased over the past 30 years. Wonder how much coverage that will get on @BBCNews

‘By preserving and enhancing the unique traits of local and indigenous foods, gene editing becomes a bridge between the past and the future.’ @FAO director-general Qu Dongyu

NFU Cymru’s crop and horticulture group chairman Tom Rees warns that if Wales does not follow England in freeing up the use of precision breeding techniques such as gene editing "it could finish horticulture in Wales."

@AliceGroom2 @FarmersWeekly @DefraGovUK Not sure you can have read the article. Our comments weren't even related to the Big Farmland Bird Count.

The underlying message from the Government's land use framework consultation is clear. To deliver the best outcomes for food security, nature and the climate, a radical new policy approach is needed, focused on helping farmers produce ‘more from less’.

"The weakness of environmentalism - they don't know any science, or anything about farming, they just claim it is bad from their air-conditioned offices to raise money." In Finland Farmers Are Now Forced To Yell At Geese To Keep Crops From Being Ruined

“If you compare one hectare of soy in Brazil, and imagine we had one hectare of algae field, you could produce 15 times more protein a year from the algae.”

What can the UK learn from Australia, which @FT reports is fast becoming a test bed for the future of farming after a concerted push by the Australian authorities to transfer the country's “powerhouse” reputation in agriculture into agri-tech?

Productivity gains in beef production - by improving cattle nutrition, genetics, grassland management and new technologies like methane-reducing feed additives - can significantly reduce global emissions. Cutting Beef Isn’t the Only Way via @TheBTI

Following Defra's recent neonic rejection, reduced productivity and higher costs could make sugar beet farming less competitive, potentially leading some growers to abandon the crop altogether. The UK’s domestic sugar supply could be at risk.

Defra gives thumbs up to GM wheat trial - @FarmersWeekly "Trial plots are due to be planted this spring, with the study looking to improve yields and stress tolerance in wheat."

ICYMI When @DefraGovUK is prioritising domestic food security, and Ministers say they want the country to produce more food, why is @LloydsBank encouraging farming customers down a path which its own reports say will result in 24% lower crop yields?

Scientific advances {..} enable researchers to develop drought- and pest-resistant varieties faster. Modern tools like CRISPR gene editing offer additional promise, allowing scientists to enhance disease resistance by mimicking traits found in wild plants.

Will land use framework mark a significant shift towards land-sparing policies? "The government said that any impact on food production from land use changes could be offset by using technology and sustainable farming techniques to increase crop yields."

All-Party Group's '30:50:50 vision' aims to boost food production by 30% while cutting farming's environmental impact by 50%. Their 'Innovation Agenda for UK Agriculture' calls for government objectives to achieve this. @MPGeorgeFreeman @charliedewhirst

“The messaging against GMOs is truly shameful. How many people must die of malnutrition before we consider this a crime against humanity? We need more science in politics and less politics in science.” Nobel Laureate Sir Richard Roberts