The study on Water, Food and Economic Growth was published by the Rural Policy Group and launched at the Royal Norfolk Show.

It says modernising water infrastructure could strengthen one of Norfolk's most important sectors, while improving resilience to climate change and global supply chain shocks.

It illustrates the value of Norfolk's agri-food sector, which employs more than one in ten of the county’s workforce and is globally recognised for its expertise in arable, poultry and pig farming, and agricultural innovation.

The report notes that global shocks, from the Covid pandemic to wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with increasingly extreme weather, have "fractured international supply chains". Imported food prices have risen by 29pc compared to 15pc for UK-grown food, reinforcing the need to bolster domestic food production.

And it argues that improvements in water management would not only increase domestic productivity but also attract investment and create skilled jobs, further solidifying Norfolk’s role as a national food production hub.

Martin Collison speaking at the launch of the Rural........

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