UK Agriculture

Great Britain is a country whose widely diverse landscapes have sustained and nurtured strong traditions in agriculture.  Furthermore, Britain is a country that is pioneering new technology, crops and stock to improve the quality, efficiency and safety of agriculture and the food it produces.  Consumer protection is paramount.  Britain is also a trading nation it exports livestock, crops, machinery, equipment, technology and research skills all over the world and imports what it cannot grow for itself.  The natural advantages of fertile soils and a favourable climate, careful breeding of plants and livestock, scientific management of production systems, crop harvesting and storage; together these have nurtured a rich and diverse agriculture second to none in the world.

These pages are designed as an introduction to both traditional and leading-edge technologies that make the British agricultural industry as efficient as any in the world.  Not every sector is covered but these pages will illustrate the diversity, technological expertise and experience that Britain has to offer.

Introduction

In recent years the application of economic, environmental and consumer pressures has greatly influenced the development of the agriculture and food industries in the UK.  As a result British agro-food production and processing technologies have developed to an advanced state.  In turn the support industries have developed and are thus able to provide expertise and technology to satisfy the most exacting needs of the market place.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland covers some 24.5 million hectares.  This is divided as follows:

The climate of the UK determines the pattern of agriculture.  Despite being over 50 north in latitude the environment is temperate, influenced as it is by the Gulf Stream.  The geology of the UK is very varied and the result of these two criteria has been the development of a diverse and fertile agriculture with a long tradition of quality crops and livestock.