i) Contract for TB cattle vaccination field trials awarded
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has awarded Eville & Jones the contract to run field trials of the CattleBCG TB vaccine and DIVA (Detecting Infected Amongst Vaccinated Animals) skin test.
The field trials will be conducted on behalf of Defra, Welsh Government and Scottish Government using 20 years worth of research into TB vaccines and diagnosis.
Further information can be found on the TB Hub.
ii) Defra allows emergency use of neonicotinoids
Defra has recently granted emergency authorisation for the limited use of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam for 2021 to control threatening levels of the yellow virus in sugar beet crops.
A further 10 EU Countries have granted the same authorisations despite an almost total ban of neonicotinoids by the EU in 2018. The use of the chemical however will be tightly controlled to minimise any risk to pollinators - a priority of the UK Government.
iii) Aldi set to spend an extra £3.5 billion on British produce
Aldi has revealed plans to spend an additional £3.5 billion on British food and drink products including fresh meat, milk and eggs over the next five years, an expansion to the £8 billion spent on British agriculture in 2019.
They have also extended their immediate payment terms for small suppliers until the end of 2021 due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, allowing more than 1,000 businesses (with an annual turnover of less than £1 million) to receive faster payments.