The future of British food security will depend not only on what we grow, but how, where and how efficiently we produce it. Food security is something most of us rarely think about. We go to the supermarket, fill our baskets and expect the shelves to be stocked. Fresh fruit and vegetables are available throughout the year, often regardless of the season or the weather outside. But behind this apparent abundance lies a complex global food system, connecting farmers, growers, manufacturers,...

Modern agriculture and controlled environment agriculture (CEA) are advancing at an incredible pace. New sensors, robotics, artificial intelligence, automation systems, digital twins, and data platforms seem to emerge every week. The promise is compelling: greater precision, higher yields, reduced labour, and more efficient food production. But amidst this rapid technological progress, an important question is often overlooked: Are we solving problems, or are we creating new ones? Technology...

In modern hydroponic farming, we optimise what we can see — leaves, fruits, stems, flowers. But beneath every crop lies something largely ignored: The root system. In most commercial operations, roots are treated as waste. At harvest, they are removed together with rockwool, coco coir, peat plugs, or other disposable growing media. They are composted, sent to landfill, or diverted into anaerobic digesters to generate biogas. That is often described as “circular”. But is it truly...