20 April 2026
The University of Reading welcomed the UK government Farming Minister to Sonning Farm as it demonstrated the breadth of its agriculture and food research across 100 years as a University.
Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP, Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs, visited the 180-hectare farm, on the banks of the Thames in Berkshire, as part of the launch of the government's new Land Use Framework. The framework is England's first strategic plan for managing the country's land resources to balance food production, nature recovery and housing.
The farm is home to the University's Crops Research Unit, and provided the backdrop for Dame Angela to see ongoing trials into nature-friendly methods of farming designed to boost food security and farm profits, while also restoring wildlife to Britain’s countryside.
She was hosted by Professor Parveen Yaqoob, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, alongside Professor Simon Mortimer, Head of the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, and Crops Research Unit technical manager Richard Casebow.
Professor Yaqoob spoke with the Minister about the opportunities that agricultural research and education could offer the UK’s environment and economy, and how Reading research was supporting farmers and rural communities in the UK and around the world.
“Reading has been conducting world-class research in agriculture, food and the environment for more than a century," she said.
“We now have an ambitious vision for the next chapter of that work and we continue to invest in the science, the partnerships and the people needed to help secure a resilient and sustainable food system for the UK.”
AgriFood Futures is a major planned investment in food and farming research, building on Reading's established strengths across agronomy, nutrition, environmental science and consumer research.
During the visit, the minister spoke with Professor Simon Potts, whose work focuses on pollination and biodiversity, and Professor Tom Oliver, an expert in applied ecology and environmental resilience. Professor Oliver presented Dame Angela with a copy of his new book The Nature Delusion, which highlights the value of linking people with nature.
The minister's visit coincided with the day of the University of Reading’s Centenary, exactly 100 years since Reading received its Royal Charter.
Pictures (top) Dame Angela Eagle MP with Professor Parveen Yaqoob OBE; (bottom) Richard Casebow, Simon Mortimer, Dame Angela Eagle, Parveen Yaqoob, Tom Oliver and Simon Potts at Sonning Farm.
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