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Eight agribusiness organisations and trade associations have combined expertise to form an ‘Agri-Brexit Coalition’ to advise and lobby government during its Brexit negotiations.

The new group - founded by the likes of the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), the British Society of Plant Breeders (BSPB) and the Crop Protection Association (CPA) - will focus on issues in Brexit negotiations that are pertinent to UK trade and the supply of goods, services, technology and advice to UK farmers.

The coalition’s stated purpose will be to inform and influence the government to achieve a positive outcome to negotiations for UK agriculture, as well as the EU and the wider world.

“Whatever shape UK agriculture takes over the coming years, the industry and the nation will depend on higher efficiency and productivity along with successful relationships with other countries,” explained coalition coordinator David Caffall, who is chief executive of the AIC.

“Members of this coalition are the principal means by which knowledge is transferred and technical advance implemented on farm. This is a collective resource, which we can offer to UK governments, providing a ‘one-stop shop’ of expertise. ”

The other five organisations in the coalition are the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA), the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV), the Grain and Feed Trade Association (GAFTA), the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC), and the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH).