British farmers backed by UK Government with support package
The Prime Minister has set out new support for British farmers in a bid to strengthen food security and grow the economy.
Items in this support package include a commitment to protect farmer's interests in future trade deals, support to boost domestic fruit and veg production, and new investment in technologies.
Representatives from the whole food supply chain will convene at the No10 for the UK Farm to Fork Summit and will identify ways in which growth, innovation, and sustainability can be bolstered in the UK farming industry.
Attendees at the No10 for the UK Farm to Fork Summit will include senior representatives in the UK’s farming, horticulture, and agri-food sectors. The focus of the event will be on potential methods of increasing investment, innovation, and sustainability in the farming industry. Discussions will be held between British food and drink businesses and innovators on the themes listed above, amongst other things.
NFU President Minette Batters said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Prime Minister has honoured the commitments he made when he addressed our hustings event back in the summer to hold this food summit at Number 10, and we welcome the announcements made today.
“They show a recognition and an understanding of the strategic importance of British food and farming to the nation.
“These actions recognise the importance of coordinated action across government to support confidence, investment and growth in British food. We look forward to working with the Prime Minister, the Defra Secretary and the rest of the cabinet to Back British farming and bolster our domestic food security.”
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British farmers also received an open letter from the Prime Minister in which he addressed the state of the industry and pledged his commitment to improving it.
He said: ''If we are to stop a repeat of the shortages we saw earlier this year on our shelves, we need food security. So we have got to meet our target to continue producing 60 per cent of the food we consume. And if we want to keep one of those five promises I have made as Prime Minister – namely to grow our economy - we need to grow our food and farming industry on which the welfare of our whole country depends.
''International trade is critical to this. When you consider the scale of the opportunities within our grasp as we forge new trade deals around the world, British farming and British produce simply cannot be an afterthought. I know that is how some of you felt in the past.''
In the same letter, Rishi Sunak listed six principles that would 'put British farming at the heart of British trade'. These are listed as follows: 1) Putting agriculture up front. 2) Protecting sensitive sectors. 3) Prioritising new export opportunities. 4) Protecting UK food standards. 5) Upholding UK production standards. 6) Removing market access barriers.
Other industries receiving support from the UK government include the UK seafood industry. 22 seafood industry projects have been awarded a share of £6.2 million of funding through the Seafood Innovation Fund, as part of the government’s UK Seafood Fund. The winning projects will enhance the UK seafood sector’s productivity and sustainability, ranging from an on-land cultivation system for seaweed, to cutting-edge packaging developments that improve the shelf life of seafood.
