The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) works to ensure the provision of the essentials of life, namely; food, air, water, land, people, animals and plants. DEFRA is a major funder of science, annually supporting research, monitoring and surveillance activities. DEFRA's aim is to secure a healthy environment in which we and future generations can prosper and it has three priorities which contribute to achieving this, and these are to:

• secure a healthy natural environment for us all and deal with environmental risks
• promote a sustainable, low-carbon and resource-efficient economy
• ensure a thriving farming sector and a sustainable, healthy and secure food supply

There are five DEFRA Ministers, the Secretary of State, a Minister of State and three Parliamentary Under Secretary's. The Secretary of State is advised by the Chief Scientific Adviser for DEFRA who also sits on the Department's Management Board.

DEFRA has responsibility for a range of science issues and supports a number of research or science based facilities either as Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) or Executive Agencies:

• Food and Environment Agency
• Kew Royal Botanic Gardens
• Veterinary Laboratory Agency
• Veterinary Medicines Agency
• Marine and Fisheries Agency
• Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
• Environment Agency
• Forestry Commission
• Animal Health
• Sustainable Development Commission

Defra supports the developing European Research Area primarily through participation in the EU's Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development.