Recent meetings of the Brexit Local Government Delivery Board have taken place frequently as government continues to prepare for the UK’s exit from the EU on 31 October.

These meetings, both of which were chaired by the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, were attended by representatives from sector organisations across England including the Local Government Association, County Councils Network, District Councils’ Network and London Councils, Core Cities and Key Cities. Representatives from the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) were also invited to attend.

Board members heard departmental updates from MHCLG and DExEU representatives at both meetings while ministers from DfT, DfE and the Home Office attended the September meeting to discuss progress regarding traffic management, upcoming communications to local authorities and schools and an update on the EU Settlement Scheme respectively.

Published 30 September 2019

The way you import to and export from the EU will change after Brexit. These flowcharts explain the new processes for landing fishery products into the EU.

What you need to do to import animals, animal products, high-risk food and feed into the UK after a no-deal Brexit.

Around 75% of the poorest people in Africa live in rural areas. They depend heavily on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods.

Climate change, scarce resources, demographic and dietary changes, and changing markets all present challenges and threaten gains made in fighting global hunger and poverty.

Innovation in agriculture and food systems is low in developing countries, particularly in Africa where only 28% of farmland is planted with modern crops compared with 65% globally.

The Department for International Development and the Global Challenges Research Fund working through the AgriTech Catalyst have up to £5 million to invest in agri-tech and food chain innovations in Africa.

Agritech innovation must alleviate poverty

Projects must show they could alleviate poverty through the adoption of agricultural and food systems technology and innovation.

Organisations can undertake:

• early stage feasibility studies
• or mid-stage industrial research
• or late stage experimental development

Innovations must be sustainable, minimise pollution, food loss and waste, and promote safe, healthy and nutritious diets. They must also consider gender equality and animal welfare.

Projects can focus on:

• integrating smallholders into global and local supply chains
• increasing the value of production to smallholders
• control of crop pests, weeds and diseases
• meeting quality standards and improving productivity
• reducing food losses ‘post-farm gate’ and through the value chain
• food safety issues through the value chain
• new food technologies and data-driven food systems, including for urban areas
• challenges in downstream food processing, distribution, or storage and value addition
• innovation that supports food systems to deliver nutritious, healthy and safe food

Competition information

• the competition opens on 14 October 2019, and the closing date is at midday on 8 January 2020
• projects must be led in the UK and include at least 1 UK and 1 African partner and 1 business
• briefing events will be held on 24 October 2019 and 6 November 2019