Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) export opportunities and (b) support needs for (i) manufacturers and (ii) suppliers of (A) machinery and (B) technology used by the (1) agricultural and (2) outdoor power equipment sectors.

The agri-tech sector, covering agricultural machinery and technology, was identified in the Industrial Strategy as a high-growth area with strong export potential. The sector is expected to grow with global demand increasing for technologies to support economical resilience. To support manufacturers and suppliers, a bespoke Agri-Tech Export Accelerator Programme is under development, which will match high-growth potential businesses with the most promising markets and upskill companies to build resilient supply chains.

Additionally, the Government will invest £200 million in the Farming Innovation Programme by 2030 to drive agricultural innovation. These initiatives, shaped by the Industrial Strategy, aim to boost global competitiveness for this highly innovative sector.