A post-Brexit cheap food policy would devastate British farming

IT IS hard to imagine the British countryside without farmers at the heart of producing food and caring for its iconic landscapes. Yet that is exactly what is at stake if the UK government does not recognise the value and importance of the high food standards they adhere to when they enter trade negotiations.

We are at a crossroads. The UK government’s trade decisions will determine what food the British public will have in their fridges for generations to come. When we look back on this period, we must be able to say that we acted not just in the best interests of farmers, but of all in Britain. There is a moral imperative for farmers to be able to produce food. Not least because British people do not want to see imports of food which would be illegal to produce in the UK. There is still no clear commitment to stop this from ever happening in law, despite warm words around protecting food standards.

There is an opportunity now for Britain to lead the world in producing high-quality, sustainable food — but without commitments that these standards won’t be undermined, it could lose out on that opportunity.

Why would we legislate for British farmers to adhere to the highest standards only to wave through food imports which may not even reach the bare minimum?

British food and farming not only contributes over £120 billion to the economy as the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, but it also provides jobs for over 4 million people. So, when I hear people questioning whether we need Britain’s farmers, my reply is an emphatic yes. Farmers are the backbone of rural Britain and play a vital role in producing safe, affordable and nutritious food for the nation all while caring for the environment.

Every single farmer wants to pass on their land to the next generation in better condition than they found it, which makes how we care for our environment while tackling climate change even more important. I firmly believe farmers can be part of the solution, which is why I announced the NFU’s ambition to reach net zero emissions by 2040.

When I look over my land and see sheep and cattle turning inedible grass into high-quality, nutritious beef and lamb, I see that we are unique in the UK with our copious amounts of grassland. We start from a great place. British beef has a carbon footprint less than half that of the rest of the world and our pastures, hedges and trees act as a vital carbon sink.

Net zero cannot be achieved in isolation – the UK government must step up to the plate and seize this moment to insist that British food standards are the benchmark for climate-friendly food around the world.

Free trade no doubt brings opportunities. British agriculture’s offer should be bringing world-leading sustainable food to the global stage. The UK government must consider those opportunities against the risk of undermining Britain’s food production system by importing food produced to lesser standards.

Not only would this have a devastating impact on British farmers but it could severely dent the supply of safe, traceable, sustainable and nutritious food the British public have come to trust and expect on their shelves and plates.

‘Farmers are the backbone of rural Britain and play a vital role in producing safe, affordable, nutritious food for the nation’

Minette Batters is president of Britain’s National Farmers Union (UFU)