Engineering investment highlighted as key to future farm technology adoption

5th November 2026 webmaster

Agricultural engineers call for continued support for research, skills and precision farming following the Autumn Budget.

Investment in agricultural engineering, innovation and skills must remain central to the UK’s long-term food security and economic resilience, according to the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE), responding to the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget.

Charlie Nickin, IAgrE chief executive, said the debate around farm finances and taxation should not overshadow the contribution of engineering and technology to agricultural productivity and environmental performance.

“Food security, environmental sustainability and economic growth are all closely connected to the UK’s ability to adopt and develop modern agricultural technologies,” he said.

Agricultural engineers are developing and deploying technologies intended to improve productivity, reduce emissions, optimise inputs and strengthen climate resilience, while helping farmers respond to economic pressures, Nickin added.

For agricultural machinery manufacturers, importers, dealers and distributors, the statement highlights the importance of policies that support both technology development and its practical adoption on farms.

IAgrE argues that continued investment in agricultural research, engineering education, vocational skills and precision farming technologies will be essential as government seeks to boost economic growth and strengthen national resilience.

The skills element is particularly relevant to the machinery supply chain, where the development, sale, maintenance and effective use of increasingly sophisticated equipment depend on appropriate technical expertise. Research and engineering education also contribute to the development of future machinery, automation and precision farming systems.

The statement does not identify specific Budget measures or funding commitments. Instead, it sets out IAgrE’s priorities for the longer-term policy environment needed to support innovation across the land-based industries.

“The Institution of Agricultural Engineers believes that supporting innovation, developing the next generation of engineers and accelerating the adoption of practical technology on farms should be central to the long-term strategy for food production and environmental management,” Nickin said.

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