Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage (a) innovation and (b) domestic processing capacity in the UK dairy industry in order that that industry is able to maximise opportunities presented by emerging markets.

The Government is committed to encouraging a thriving, innovative, and globally competitive dairy industry where farms can be profitable and environmentally sustainable without subsidy. We will always champion our dairy sectors, supporting them to produce, sell, and export more of our great British food.

The Government is supporting investment in productivity-boosting equipment, technology and infrastructure. The Farming Investment Fund, which opened in November 2021, provides grants to farmers, including dairy farmers, that will help their businesses to prosper.

Innovation in agriculture also ensures that British dairy farmers remain globally competitive. Through our £270 million Farming Innovation Programme, dairy farmers in England can apply for funding to develop new, innovative methods and technologies. Amongst others, we are funding projects to develop autonomous livestock monitoring systems and new ways to process slurry to convert it into fertiliser.