Shaping the future of agriculture

Breeding new crop varieties remains a slow and laborious process. It can take years, sometimes decades, from the first cross to the commercial release of a new variety. Climate shocks, conflict, and shifting policy outpace genetic progress, leaving yields stagnating in key crops such as wheat.

At the same time, the UK faces the steady erosion of its agricultural base. In a recent report ‘UK food security; outlook to 2050’, published online by the policy platform Science for Sustainable Agriculture, former NFU and CLA chief economist Dr. Derrick Wilkinson highlighted the loss of 4.4%, or 771,000 ha, of farmland over the past 25 years.

Domestic food production has fallen in parallel, dropping to 65%, its lowest level in half a century. Even more concerning, the report warns that in a worst-case scenario, almost a quarter of the UK’s utilised agricultural area could be at risk. 

Against this backdrop, the question is unavoidable: can faster adoption of new technologies help us accelerate solutions? Can we realistically aspire to strengthen domestic food production and reduce our dependence on imports?

Niab CEO Mario Caccamo meeting new Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs Dame Angela Eagle DBE at an industry event in early October 2025. (Photo by Max MacGillivray)

The Niab Landmark Autumn 2025 Edition explores how gene editing, a powerful precision breeding tool, can help address these pressing challenges. At Niab, we are not only investing in biotechnology, but also supporting efforts to modernise the regulatory frameworks that govern its use.

Wilkinson’s analysis makes clear that much of the decline in food production has been exacerbated by overly restrictive regulation, which has delayed innovation and limited farmers’ options.

With proportionate, science-based regulation, precision breeding technologies such as gene editing can transform our ability to feed more people, more sustainably. They will be crucial to enabling farmers to raise yields while using fewer inputs, supporting both profitability and environmental goals.

Encouragingly, positive stories of gene editing research now emerge almost daily. Scientists are developing higher yielding crops with greater climate resilience, more durable pest and disease resistance, improved nutritional quality, and reduced environmental impact.

The combination of precision breeding with digital tools such as artificial intelligence promises to accelerate progress further by fast-tracking the identification of genes linked to key agricultural traits. 

With tens of thousands of genes within each crop genome, the opportunities for innovation are immense.

Mario discussing the 30:50:50 initiative: with shadow Defra minister Robbie Moore MP and APPGSTA’s Daniel Pearsall. The initiative aims to increase UK agricultural productivity by 30% by 2050, while simultaneously reducing the environmental footprint of farming by 50% per unit of output.

Momentum is also building in the commercial sector. Fresh Del Monte has warned of a looming global banana shortage driven by climate change and fungal diseases such as Black Sigatoka and Tropical Race 4.

In response, the company plans to begin field testing TR4-resistant gene-edited banana lines. UK start-up Tropic Bioscience is pioneering similar approaches to boost productivity and resilience in novel gene edited banana varieties.

Meanwhile, confectionery giant Mars has partnered with gene editing firm Pairwise to protect the cacao crop from mounting threats posed by disease and climate variability.

The scale of global research is equally compelling. According to the EU Sage database, more than 1,000 peer-reviewed studies on gene editing in crops have now been published. These span 76 species and 58 countries: this is a truly global phenomenon. The gene editing revolution is only just beginning, and with it comes the chance to address some of the greatest threats to our food supply.

The application of AI to unlock novel gene combinations will only accelerate this transformation. Britain’s scientists are at the forefront of this revolution. Through the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, which came into effect this November, we have established one of the most progressive regulatory systems in the world designed to move breakthroughs from lab to field more quickly.

At Niab, we are proud to pioneer the use of science and innovation to enhance productivity, with precision breeding as a prime example.

One example of the benefits of gene editing, highlighted in Autumn’s Landmark, is the PiperPlus programme: a collaboration between BioPotatoes and The Sainsbury Laboratory. This initiative has produced a cisgenic potato with durable resistance to late blight. PiperPlus potatoes have been trialled at Niab for several years. This precision-bred variety not only helps growers manage a devastating disease but also contributes to environmental protection by reducing the need for pesticides.

Niab is also actively involved in ensuring that the current process for registering and evaluating new varieties developed through precision breeding is fit for purpose. This is another example that underscores the value of our expertise in supporting and de-risking the adoption of new technologies.

As Wilkinson’s report makes clear, growing populations and rising pressure on farmland mean that the only way to strengthen food security is to use our land as wisely and productively as possible. That requires farming policies and regulations that are fit for purpose, grounded in evidence, and enabling of innovation, not restrictive of it.

The challenge is urgent. The tools are available. Now we must ensure the will and the policies are in place to seize this opportunity.

This article originally appeared in the Autumn 2025 edition of Niab’s Landmark magazine. Landmark features in-depth technical articles on all aspects of Niab crop research, comment and advice. You can sign up for free and get Landmark delivered to your door or inbox:

Sign up