Royal Agricultural University welcomes inclusion of agritech and agriculture in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy

23 June 2025

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) has welcomed the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy which has been published this morning by the UK Government.

Agriculture features as a ‘frontier industry’ within Advanced Manufacturing - one of the eight ‘IS-8’ sectors picked out as having the highest potential.

RAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter McCaffery said: “It is very welcome to see agritech and the strategic importance of agriculture recognised in the Industrial Strategy government published today.

“It contains immediate good news, like the commitment to fund the Farming Innovation Programme until 2030, which includes the new ADOPT funding for farmer-led innovation, and ensures agriculture and horticulture can have traction in crucial decisions on skills, data, investment and trade.

“The strategy highlights the Royal Agricultural University as central to an agri-cluster in Gloucestershire. Our planned Innovation Village will take this to the next level.”  

The full Industrial Strategy can be viewed here.

The Advanced Manufacturing sector plan is here, with the agri-tech section on pp.47-49