The Government has announced its latest agriculture bill, which promises to reward British farmers by moving away from EU policy.
The bill will aim to strike a balance between food production and protecting the environment, while also seeking to take back control of the British farming industry from the EU.
Ian Wright CBE, FDF chief executive, responded to the bill by saying: “UK food and drink manufacturers purchase the majority of what UK farmers grow and produce. We will work closely with our friends in the NFU to ensure the UK’s future food and agriculture policy delivers for all parts of our £121 billion food supply chain.
“As the Government embarks upon trade negotiations with the EU and partners around the world, it is vital that we prioritise the quality and choice of UK food and drink, and safeguard the confidence of our consumers and shoppers in our world-class industry. The UK’s 8,000 food and drink manufacturers must continue to have access to adequate supplies of raw materials that are safe, of high quality and competitively priced.
“We are committed to reducing our own environmental impacts and to working with others to increase resource efficiency and help protect natural capital across the supply chain.”
“We welcome the commitment from government to keep our food security under review. It must assess both domestic production as well as vital ingredients and goods from overseas. We are committed to reducing our own environmental impacts and to working with others to increase resource efficiency and help protect natural capital across the supply chain.”
“Alongside Henry Dimbleby’s work on the National Food Strategy and the forthcoming Environment Bill, we hope a joined-up approach from the Government will ensure UK food and drink continues to be a great national success story.”
Department for environment, food and rural affairs (DEFRA) secretary, Theresa Villiers, said: “Our landmark Agriculture Bill will transform British farming, enabling a balance between food production and the environment which will safeguard our countryside and farming communities for the future.
“This is one of the most important environmental reforms for many years, rewarding farmers for the work they do to safeguard our environment and helping us meet crucial goals on climate change and protecting nature and biodiversity.”
Villiers continued: “We will move away from the EU’s bureaucratic Common Agricultural Policy and towards a fairer system which rewards our hard-working farmers for delivering public goods, celebrating their world-leading environmental work and innovative, modern approach to food production.
“We will continue to champion British produce and support farmers to adapt to our new pioneering approach to agriculture through a seven-year transition period in England, ensuring we unleash the potential of our farmers for the future.”
