{"value":{"id":76759,"askingMemberId":1591,"askingMember":null,"house":"Commons","memberHasInterest":false,"dateTabled":"2014-07-09T00:00:00","dateForAnswer":"2014-07-14T00:00:00","uin":"204794","questionText":"To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage investment in agricultural technologies to increase the efficiency of food production.","answeringBodyId":13,"answeringBodyName":"Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs","isWithdrawn":false,"isNamedDay":false,"groupedQuestions":[],"answerIsHolding":false,"answerIsCorrection":false,"answeringMemberId":3934,"answeringMember":null,"correctingMemberId":null,"correctingMember":null,"dateAnswered":"2014-07-16T00:00:00","answerText":"<p> </p><p>Defra is working with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for International Development to implement the Government's Agri-Tech Strategy. The Strategy is investing £160 million in projects and industry-led Centres of Agricultural Innovation to support an increase in agricultural productivity. In addition, a dedicated UKTI Unit has been established to increase the volume and value of overseas investment in the UK Agri-Tech sector.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Strategy is industry-led. It is driven forward by a Leadership Council which brings together representatives of research bodies and the sector to identify and advise on industry priorities and to promote the Strategy within the sector.</p><p> </p>","originalAnswerText":"","comparableAnswerText":"","dateAnswerCorrected":null,"dateHoldingAnswer":null,"attachmentCount":0,"heading":"Agriculture: Technology","attachments":[],"groupedQuestionsDates":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Questions/76759","method":"GET"}]}