Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Defra works for the essentials of life - water, food, air, land, people, animals and plants.

UK farming contributes £6.6 billion a year to our economy, uses around three quarters of this country's land area, and employs over half a million people. One of Defra's major tasks is to help this vital industry to operate as efficiently as possible. Defra administers support policies agreed in Brussels which provide around £3 billion to UK agriculture.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/default.htm