In 1838 a group of individuals with interests in agriculture – journalists, landowners and enthusiasts – had become convinced that science would help English agriculture become more productive and meet the growing food requirements of a booming population. This was a time when the science underpinning agriculture was rapidly accelerating, and the society was set up to translate new knowledge into practical solutions that could be applied on farms. In 1840, the Royal Agricultural Society of England was granted its’ Royal Charter by HRH Queen Victoria.
Across nearly two centuries, the Royal Agricultural Society of England has played a leading role in the rapid agricultural progress of the 19th and 20th Centuries. The Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England was first published in 1840 and continued until 2002. The society also held the annual Royal Show from 1839 to 2009, which was an annual celebration of agriculture in England.
Today the society remains true to its roots and is dedicated to the application of science and technology to optimise farming and food resources. The Farm of the Future initiative shares information about solutions to enable profitable production of food while responding to environmental and societal challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss and the health crisis. Our sister charity, Innovation for Agriculture, delivers farmer to farmer learning opportunities and events.
In 2023, the RASE Farm of the Future Award was established to promote and celebrate the trailblazers of agriculture in England, whose efforts are leading the way to establish agricultural systems which are producing nutritious food, benefiting the environment and are economically sustainable.
The RASE Farm of the Future report and associated sector papers were published in 2022.
The Science and Technology Award was established in 2022. It promotes the outstanding research and innovation that is enabling transformative
change with the agri-food sector.
The Bledisloe Gold Medal for Landowners was awarded to HRH Her Majesty the Queen for the management of her Sandringham and Windsor Estates.
RASE established Innovation for Agriculture in 2013.
The final Royal Show was held at Stoneleigh Park in 2009.
In 1999, the Excellence in Practical Farming Award was established to recognise farmers and farm managers who are setting a lead for others, as practical farmers, and who are willing to impart their knowhow and encourage others to follow suit.
In 1992 the European Poultry Fair became the Pig & Poultry Fair. This was made possible by both the Poultry Fair and Pig Fair being based at Stoneleigh since RASE took over the management of Poultry Fair in 1983.
Linking Environment and Farming (LEAF) was launched at The Royal Show in 1991.
Agriculture was celebrated throughout the official British Food and Farming year
The National Agricultural Centre Rural Trust, which is now the Rural Housing Trust, was formed in 1975.
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust was formed in 1973.
The Poultry Fair began in 1965 as a farm open day to consolidate interest in the developing poultry industry. The open day soon became a fair and the single day became two.
The National Agricultural Award was established in 1964. The award is presented to an individual to recognise an outstanding contribution to the advancement of agriculture in the UK.
The Bledisloe gold medal was gifted to RASE by Viscount Bledisloe on his 90th birthday. The Bledisloe gold medal was originally awarded to a landowner who achieved outstanding service in encouraging the application of science and technology to some branch of British husbandry. It is now awarded to a landowner who demonstrates outstanding achievement in the successful land management and development of an agricultural estate in England.
The Burke Perpetual Challenge Trophies were introduced as a new award at the RASE Royal Show in 1951, to mark the occasion of Sir Roland Burke's retirement in 1950, after 20 years in office as Honorary Director of RASE.
The Agriculture Act of 1947 was an important piece of legislation which conditioned post-war policy. The government's aim was to maintain high levels of agricultural production.
RASE was involved in testing and reporting on some of the first tractors to arrive in England, which were shipped over from America.
In 1919 The Board of Agriculture and the Ministry of Food were merged to form the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. This later became the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), which was in turn the predecessor of Defra.
The Ministry of Food was created in 1916 in response to a change of mood around food security during the first world war.
Harper Adams College, now university, was founded in 1901.
The National Examination Board was established to promote agricultural education. This marks the origins of the National Diploma in Agriculture and was the model for today’s specialist exams.
Milk quality assessment was introduced at the Royal Show. This was the precursor of modern milk recording schemes.
The Board of Agriculture was established by an Act of Parliament in 1889.
Recommendations lead to the introduction of Cattle Diseases Prevention Act.
The Royal Agricultural College, now the Royal Agricultural University was founded in 1845. It was the first such institution in the English speaking world.
Rothamsted Experimental Station, now Rothamsted Research, was founded in 1843.
In 1840, the group of agricultural enthusiasts, landowners and journalists became the Royal Agricultural Society of England when it was granted its Royal Charter by HRH Queen Victoria.
The first Royal Show was held in west London in 1839.
In 1838 a group of individuals with interests in agriculture – journalists, landowners and enthusiasts – became convinced that science would help English agriculture become more productive and meet the growing food requirements of a booming population.
