Defra launches new Food and Environment Research Agency

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a new Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) in Sand Hutton.

According to the government, the new body will help to strengthen the world-class research used by Defra to protect the environment.

The state-of-the-art facility will bring together the department's Central Science Laboratory, Plant Health Division, Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate, Plant Variety Rights Office, Seeds Division and UK Government Decontamination Service.

Commenting on the launch of Fera, environment secretary Hilary Benn said: "We face the challenge of climate change, we need strong scientific institutions to provide us with good, credible evidence. The creation of Fera is a big step forward in doing this."

In other Defra news, the department recently gave the go-ahead to five new anaerobic digestion projects, as part of the government's plans to tackle food waste.

Written by Lauren Steadman