The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) welcomed MPs to an Arla dairy farm to share insights on food security and economy as part of the NFU’s Food and Farming Fellowship Scheme.

As part of the scheme, the visit provided parliamentarians with a ‘field-to-fork’ insight into how the sector is supporting food security and the rural economy.

The MPs toured the Arla Innovation Farm near Princes Risborough before heading to Arla Foods’ Aylesbury Dairy, which NFU said uses “the latest robotics and automation” in its processing.

“Providing valuable knowledge and information to our politicians on visits like this can go a long way in helping to create a more resilient, sustainable and profitable industry.”

NFU deputy president Paul Tompkins, who joined the visit, said: “It’s great to get MPs out on farm and around a major processing facility so they have a better understanding of the importance of the dairy sector and the wider supply chain and its contribution to food production, the environment, jobs and rural communities.

“Providing valuable knowledge and information to our politicians on visits like this can go a long way in helping to create a more resilient, sustainable and profitable industry.”

Paul Dover, UK agriculture director at Arla Foods, said: “This is the second year that we have supported the NFU Parliamentary Fellowship programme by hosting a visit on farm and to Arla Aylesbury.

“It is really valuable to showcase our role as the UK’s biggest agricultural co-operative and the commitment of our farmers and colleagues to underpin food security. We are looking forward to continuing to work with the Fellowship programme in the future.”