The National Food Strategy, the United Kingdom's first commissioned
independent review of the government's food policy, was launched last
week. Leading groups in the United Kingdom's crop improvement pipeline,
from fundamental and applied genetic science to commercial plant
breeding, have issued a joint call on the Government to take action on
regulation and R&D to harness the unique contribution of plant genetics
in securing a more sustainable food future.

The National Food Strategy (NFS), which aims to provide a roadmap for
transforming the food system from its current state to one that is
healthier for the population and the planet, highlighted the need to
invest in the latest science, including new breeding techniques. This is
"to improve productivity without polluting the land." The NFS discussed
the potential to increase crop yields by up to 30% through advances in
crop breeding and sets out the need for a Challenge Fund targeted at
practical innovation that would shift the nation towards sustainable and
healthy eating.

The joint call is for the UK Government to ensure these innovations can
take place by providing a proportionate and enabling regulatory
framework for genetic innovation, alongside a more coherent R&D strategy
for cropgenetic improvementwhich ensures promising new genetic
discoveries, for example in model plant species, have a clear
translational pathway into crops and products of value to UK farmers and
consumers.

Take action to harness the unique contribution of plant genetic
innovation, Government urged - BSPB
[www.bspb.co.uk]