Western Morning News (Saturday)
New strategy to boost UK food exports by a third
FARMING leaders have unveiled ambitious plans to boost the UK’s agri-food exports by 30% by 2030 in a new report.
Outlining its latest export strategy, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) said this will bring the total value of domestic food, drink and agricultural exports to over £30 billion.
The ’30, 30, 30+’ ambition is designed to be achieved in partnership with Government and should be a “driving force to showcase the fantastic British brand and put British food on plates across the world”, the organisation added.
The strategy, titled ‘Growing our Agri-Food Exports to 2030 and Beyond’, was launched in London earlier this week at an event attended by the Minister for Trade Policy Penny Mordaunt and Farming Minister Victoria Prentis, scores of MPs, peers and trade experts.
Farmer and grower members of the NFU, whose high quality produce has already made in-roads into markets around the world, were also at the launch to share their stories.
Minette Batters, president of the NFU and a South West livestock farmer, said: “The premium quality of British food is recognised all around the world. Our iconic products, such as Cheddar cheese and British lamb, are not just known for their quality, but the high standards and sustainability they are produced to.
“As we enter a new world where the UK aims to be a major player in global trade, and our farmers will be facing much more competition from imports, now is the time to drive our agri-food exports. There are some fantastic opportunities for Britain in our new trading relationships and for British food and farming.”
The strategy contains a 10-point plan to make this ambition a reality, which includes “identifying and unlocking target markets” by removing market access barriers through free trade agreement negotiations, and appointing an agri-food exports Government minister.
It also calls for more investment in “technical expertise at home and abroad”, such as match-funding farmer and processor levy contributions to the Agriculture and Horticulture Board (AHDB) – currently £6.6 million – and ensuring the UK’s new agricultural attaches have sufficient resources.
Furthermore the NFU, which already has a strategy to double the value of dairy exports over the next decade, is asking the Government to review current marketing and promotional activities for agri-food exports, particularly under the GREAT campaign.
Mrs Batters, who farms in Wiltshire, added: “With an estimated two billion more middle class consumers by 2050, we know there will be an appetite to buy British food around the world. Our farmers can offer the quality, innovative and premium products they demand.
“British farmers are ambitious. We want to work with the Government to increase our agri-food exports by 30% by 2030 and see tangible progress. The 10-point plan we have put together can help achieve this, but it needs commitment and resource from government to enable this growth.”
And British farmers shouldn’t be afraid to “take a leaf out of our competitors’ playbooks” either, she concluded. “The likes of Australia, New Zealand and the USA are competitive exporters because they put the experts and resources into their target markets. That’s something our government should be looking to emulate and work with farmers to achieve.”