The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has released its new Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme, which MPs from across the UK have signed up to.

The Scheme, in partnership with sponsoring organisations ABP UK, Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), Arla Foods, Barfoots, British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) and Fareshare, will aim to showcase the sustainability and affordability of food produced from field to fork.

Over the course of the year, the Scheme will cover different farming sectors. To conclude, participating MPs will take part in a graduation dinner in Westminster, where NFU will recognise them for their work in “building up an understanding and knowledge of the UK food and farming industry”.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “The NFU engages with all political parties to ensure they understand the importance of boosting home-grown food production as well as the work farmers and growers carry out caring for the environment, providing a home for nature and finding solutions to the challenges of climate change.

“Our Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme is an extension of that campaigning work and has been designed to create a new group of champion MPs who will speak up in their constituencies but also in Westminster on some of the big issues impacting an industry which forms the backbone of the UK’s largest manufacturing sector – food and drink – contributing more than £146 billion to the economy.

“Along with all our sponsor partners, we will provide those MPs with the tools, knowledge and understanding they need to be able to highlight the critical role of food security in delivering national security and the growth and investment required for the future of British farming, so our farmers and growers can continue producing safe, sustainable and affordable homegrown food alongside caring for the environment.”

Signatories of the Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme include two Conservative MPs, three Liberal Democrat MPs and 15 Labour MPs.