Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, on Thursday 9 January set out the Government’s long-term vision to put more money back in the pockets of British farmers, while speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference.
Government’s New Deal for Farmers, included:
- Backing British produce: For the first time, Government will monitor food currently bought in the public sector and where it is bought from. Public sector catering spend is approx. £5 billion each year
- Using planning reforms to support food production: The government are planning reforms make it quicker for farmers to build the buildings, barns and other infrastructure they need on their farms to boost food production
- Diversifying income streams: Helping farmers make additional money from selling surplus energy from solar panels and wind turbines by accelerating connections to the grid and support them during difficult harvests and supply shocks
- A fair supply chain: Boosting profitability through fair competition across the supply chain. New rules for the pig sector will come this spring, ensuring contracts clearly set out expectations and changes can only be made if agreed by all parties. Similar regulations for eggs and fresh produce sectors will follow with the government ready to intervene with other sectors if needed
- Protecting farmers in trade deals: The government will uphold and protect our high environmental and animal welfare standards in future trade deals
The recently announced 25-year farming roadmap will be published later this year. These announcements came alongside the launch of the Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Fund, which will provide grant funding for farmer-led trials of innovative technology and techniques that drive sustainable food production, tackle climate change impacts, and protect nature. Further details on how farmers can apply to be released shortly.