The Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE ) welcomes Farming Roadmap 2050 and Calls for Technology, Skills and Innovation to Drive Agricultural Growth

The Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE) has welcomed the publication of the UK Government's Farming Roadmap 2050: Growing England's Future, describing it as a positive step towards providing the long-term certainty needed to support a productive, sustainable and profitable farming sector.

The roadmap, published in June 2026 following extensive engagement with farmers and industry stakeholders across England, sets out the Government's vision for the next 24 years and identifies practical actions to be delivered over the next five years.

With farmers managing 70% of England's land, employing more than 400,000 people, supporting a £153 billion agri-food sector and producing around 65% of the nation's food, IAgrE believes the roadmap rightly recognises agriculture as critical national infrastructure.

Charlie Nicklin CEO at IAgrE, said:

"The Farming Roadmap 2050 acknowledges the enormous contribution that farming makes to food security, the economy and the environment. Importantly, it recognises that the sector must be both productive and profitable if it is to meet the significant challenges and opportunities that lie ahead."

"As environmental expectations increase and climate pressures intensify, innovation and technology will be essential in helping farmers produce more with fewer resources while improving environmental outcomes."

IAgrE and its members have played a leading role in advancing agricultural productivity through engineering innovation, from machinery development and automation to precision agriculture, soil management, water efficiency and data-driven decision-making.

The Institution believes that achieving the ambitions of the Farming Roadmap will depend on continued investment in research, development and the adoption of new technologies across the sector.

IAgrE supports the roadmap's recognition that farmers do not operate in isolation and that supply chains, markets and wider industry stakeholders all influence business decisions and environmental outcomes. The Institution is calling for continued efforts to support innovation and help de-risk the adoption of new technologies at farm level.

Charlie added:  
"Innovation only delivers value when it can be adopted in practice. Supporting research and development, helping businesses scale up new technologies and ensuring farmers have confidence in investing in innovation will be critical to delivering the roadmap's ambitions."
The Institution has also welcomed the roadmap's focus on skills, education and professional recognition, warning that agricultural engineering education faces significant challenges at a time when demand for technical expertise is growing.

As the professional body representing agricultural engineers, technologists, environmental specialists and industry leaders, IAgrE believes developing the next generation of skilled professionals will be vital to delivering future farming systems that are productive, resilient and environmentally sustainable.

The Institution has expressed its support for the roadmap's proposed Task and Finish Groups and is encouraging Government to make full use of the expertise available within the agricultural engineering profession.

"The technologies, systems and processes needed to achieve the Farming Roadmap's vision will be developed and delivered by highly skilled engineers, scientists and technologists," said  Charile and its members stand ready to contribute their expertise and help turn the roadmap's ambitions into practical outcomes for the farming sector."

As the Government begins implementing the roadmap, IAgrE looks forward to working with policymakers, farmers, researchers and industry partners to help create a thriving agricultural sector that delivers food security, economic growth and environmental sustainability.