Agri-food tech company Saturn Bioponics’ Alex Fisher and Arnoud Witteveen.

It is predicted that 60 percent more food will be needed worldwide by 2050 to feed the expanding global population. To meet this demand, government has announced £90 million of new funding to help businesses, reseachers and industry to transform food production.

Transforming food production – part of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund

The programme will be led by Innovate UK and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. It is part of government Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund.

4 areas of investment

The fund will go towards 4 areas to:

• create ‘Translation Hubs’ that bring together businesses, farmers and academics to collaborate on research projects
• support innovation accelerators to explore the potential of new technology and speed up commercialisation
• launch a new research programme to identify and build on export opportunities overseas
• fund demonstrator projects that show how innovative agri-tech ideas can be applied in real-world settings

It was announced today in a speech by Business Secretary Greg Clark to the National Farmers’ Union.

Support for innovative agri-food projects

UK businesses that are interested in finding out more about the fund as well as other opportunities in agri-food can go to a Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) industry event.

Here you can:

• get advice on how to access funding
• attend workshops
• hear talks and case studies from previous funding winners

Published 21 February 2018

The Environment Agency is reminding anglers of the importance of having a rod licence after successfully prosecuting fourteen men last month.

The anglers were caught committing the offences in 14 separate incidents across the North East in July, August and September last year, including three in Hexham, and one each in Bellingham, Harlow Hill and Wylam. They received combined fines of £3,749, including £1,784 in costs and £300 victim surcharge. All pleaded guilty with the exception of two who were found guilty in their absence.

Rachael Caldwell, Enforcement Team Leader at the Environment Agency, said:

We’ve started the year as we mean to go on – taking strong action against illegal fishing.

The majority of anglers fish legally and purchase a rod licence. Those that don’t are cheating their fellow anglers and endangering the future of the sport. In addition rod licence cheats risk a criminal conviction, a significant fine and could lose their fishing equipment.

The Environment Agency carries out enforcement work all year round. Fisheries enforcement work is intelligence-led, targeting known hot-spots and where illegal fishing is reported.

All income from rod licence sales is used to fund Environment Agency work to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries, including improving habitats for fish and facilities for anglers, tackling illegal fishing and working with partners to encourage people to give fishing a go.

Buying a rod licence is quick and easy – you can buy them online at Gov.uk.

People with asthma are being asked to replace specific batches of their Ventolin Accuhaler inhalers, used for the emergency relief of asthmatic symptoms. This is due to a manufacturing issue that results in a small number of the devices not delivering the full number of doses.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today issued a patient level drug alert recalling two specific affected lots manufactured by Glaxo Wellcome UK Limited.

Patients who have used the affected batches of Ventolin may find that their symptoms are not relieved as normal by their Ventolin Accuhaler. If this happens, they should seek medical advice. Affected Accuhalers should be returned to their pharmacist for a replacement.

Additionally, one lot of Seretide Accuhaler, used for the maintenance of preventative treatment of asthma, is being recalled from hospitals, pharmacies, dispensing practices, retailers and wholesalers in the UK.

The recall of Seretide Accuhaler is pharmacy level because this is used for maintenance treatment as opposed to a reliever treatment.

The two affected batches of Ventolin Accuhaler and the one affected batch of Seretide were distributed to the UK market.

Only a small proportion of the units are defective (images below). Other asthma inhalers, including the more commonly used Ventolin Evohaler, are not affected.

Bernadette Sinclair Jenkins, MHRA’s Regulatory Assessment Unit Manager of the Inspections, Enforcement and Standards unit said:

It is important people check whether they have an affected inhaler. We want patients and their families to be confident treatment will be safe and effective when required.”

People with a Ventolin Accuhaler from the affected lots should take them to their pharmacy or their dispensing practice and speak to a pharmacist who will provide a replacement.

We strongly encourage anyone to report any issues with their inhalers or other medicines or medical devices to MHRA via our Yellow Card Scheme.

Information is also available to patients and healthcare professionals by contacting GSK’s Customer Support Team via customercontactuk@gsk.com or calling on 0800 221 441 (option 4).

Two batches of Ventolin Accuhaler are being recalled

One lot of Seretide is being recalled from hospitals, pharmacies, dispensing practices, retailers and wholesalers in the UK

One lot of Seretide is being recalled from hospitals, pharmacies, dispensing practices, retailers and wholesalers in the UK

Notes to Editor

1. MHRA is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgments to ensure that the benefits justify any risks. MHRA is a centre of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency which also includes the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) and the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). The Agency is an executive agency of the Department of Health. www.mhra.gov.uk

2. Link to Drug Alert

3. Link to Yellow Card Scheme

We are pleased to announce that the Civil Service Fast Track Apprenticeship will be opening for applications on 28 February 2018 at 12PM (midday).

Before the window opens we invite you take a look at the 6 choices on offer including the Policy apprenticeship, available for the first time this year.

Please remember to pre-register your interest and we send you a reminder we have opened.

You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat: csfasttrack.