All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture
Name	All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture
Abbreviation	APPG-STA
Formation	20th century
Status	Informal cross-party group
Purpose	Parliamentary scrutiny of agricultural science and technology
Headquarters	Houses of Parliament, London

All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture is an informal cross-party forum within the Parliament of the United Kingdom that brings together members of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, external experts from institutions such as the Royal Society, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, and stakeholders from industry including representatives from Syngenta, Bayer and National Farmers' Union. The APPG-STA convenes inquiries, hearings and stakeholder briefings to examine intersections between agricultural research, biotechnology, environmental regulation and trade policy affecting constituencies across the United Kingdom.

History

The APPG-STA emerged amid late 20th-century debates involving the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Food Standards Agency, with parliamentary interest shaped by events such as the Bovine spongiform encephalopathy crisis and milestones like the approval of Bt corn in the European Union. Early participants included Members associated with the Science and Technology Committee (House of Commons) and peers from the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, alongside advisers from the Royal Agricultural University and research councils including the Natural Environment Research Council. The APPG hosted panels featuring figures from the Wellcome Trust, the Institute of Directors, and the Smithsonian Institution-affiliated researchers during periods of agricultural reform influenced by the Common Agricultural Policy and the World Trade Organization negotiations.

Purpose and Objectives

The APPG-STA's remit aligns with scrutiny and promotion of scientific evidence relevant to agricultural practice, drawing on expertise from bodies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the International Rice Research Institute. Objectives include assessing technologies promoted by firms like Monsanto (now part of Bayer) and evaluating standards set by regulators such as the European Food Safety Authority alongside parliamentary priorities associated with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The group seeks to inform parliamentary amendments related to instruments like the Agriculture Act 2020, shape inquiries comparable to those of the Environmental Audit Committee (House of Commons), and foster links with universities such as University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, and Imperial College London.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises Members of Parliament and Peers drawn from parties represented in the United Kingdom general election, with officers typically including a Chair, Vice-Chairs and a Secretariat often provided by a sponsoring organisation such as a charity like the Royal Society of Biology or a think tank such as the Chatham House. Governance follows APPG code overseen by the House of Commons Commission and procedures that reference the Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups. Notable parliamentarians who have engaged with the APPG include individuals active on the Science and Technology Committee (House of Commons), alumni of the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, and chairs of select committees like the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.

Activities and Reports

The APPG-STA organizes inquiries, roundtables, and evidence sessions that feature speakers from the Food and Drink Federation, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, and academic centres such as Rothamsted Research and the John Innes Centre. Its outputs have included reports, briefing notes and manifestos presented to committees including the Treasury Committee (UK Parliament) and discussed during debates in the House of Commons and House of Lords. Sessions have addressed topics connected to innovations from companies like Corteva Agriscience, regulatory developments at the European Medicines Agency, and international research collaborations involving the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.

Influence on Policy and Legislation

Through evidence synthesis and stakeholder convening, the APPG-STA has informed parliamentary scrutiny of measures such as the Agriculture Act 2020 and contributed expertise relevant to amendments concerning environmental stewardship negotiated with the European Commission and international partners in forums like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Its engagement has intersected with advisory routes used by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment and influenced ministerial briefings within the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and correspondence with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. APPG publications have been cited by committees including the Science and Technology Committee (House of Commons) and the Environmental Audit Committee (House of Commons) in shaping regulatory timelines and funding priorities.

Funding and Transparency

Funding for the APPG-STA typically derives from a mix of membership subscriptions, event sponsorship from industry participants such as Bayer and Syngenta, and in-kind support from academic partners like Rothamsted Research and the John Innes Centre. The APPG adheres to transparency rules set out in the Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups with declared benefits recorded in the Parliamentary Register of Interests. Concerns about influence and lobbying have prompted scrutiny from organisations including Transparency International and commentary in outlets such as The Guardian and Financial Times, leading to procedural reviews by the House of Commons Committee on Standards.

Category:Parliamentary groups of the United Kingdom Category:Agriculture in the United Kingdom Category:Science and technology studies