Shoppers urged to back UK farmers
FARMERS’ leaders have today called for “buy British” filters and clearer country of origin labelling on supermarket websites when customers are shopping online for groceries.
The National Farmers’ Union is also urging the Government to commit to maintaining Britain’s self-sufficiency in food production at or above its current level of 60%, and to back more British food in public-sector catering such as schools and hospitals. The NFU has released a report which calls on the Government to complete a comprehensive report on UK food security later this year – the first for more than a decade.
It also sets out how it believes the UK can reduce its reliance on imported food by harnessing the opportunities to increase homegrown produce, such as beans and peas for people and animal feed, and boost export markets for produce such as lamb.
And it highlights action farmers are taking to make farming climatefriendly and sustainable, from protecting soils to rearing livestock on pastures and using new breeding and technology.
One of the suggestions in the report is clearer, more accurate labelling on where groceries sold online are coming from, while another step could be the introduction of a “Buy British” button or filter to allow shoppers to select British products, it says.
It also calls for the Government to put UK-produced food at the heart of public procurement policy, with assurances that the public sector does not provide a back door to imports not produced to British standards.
FARMERS’ leaders have urged the Government to commit to not let Britain’s self-sufficiency in food production slip down below its current level of 60%, and to back the use of more homegrown produce in public sector catering such as schools and hospitals.
‘Buy British’ filters and clearer country of origin labelling could be introduced for online shopping to support the UK’s farming industry, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) is suggesting.
The call comes on Back British Farming Day as the NFU has released a new report which calls on the Government to complete a “comprehensive report” on UK food security later this year - the first for more than a decade.
Titled ‘British Food: Leading The Way’, it also sets out how it believes the UK can reduce its reliance on imported food by harnessing the growth opportunities for different home-grown foods and increasing British sourcing in the public sector, coupled with ambitious food and trade strategies that will help farmers provide more quality, affordable and climate-friendly food to people at home and abroad.
Minette Batters, president of the NFU and a Westcountry livestock farmer, commented: “British farmers produce some of the best food in the world. Not only is it delicious and nutritious, but it’s produced to incredibly high environmental, animal welfare, traceability, and food safety standards – something not every country is able to say.
“Yet, over the past few years, not enough importance has been placed on Britain’s food production. This has been all too clear as the country has watched its self-sufficiency drop from as high as 78% in the mid-80s to its current level of just 60%.”
She continued: “As an island nation which is very well suited for quality food production, it would be a mistake to let that happen again and become even more reliant on the rest of the world to feed us.”
One of the suggestions made in the NFU’s 20-page report is clearer, more accurate labelling on where groceries sold online are coming from, while another step could be the introduction of a ‘Buy British’ button or filter to allow shoppers to select British products.
It also calls for the Government to put UK-produced food at the heart of public procurement policy, with assurances that the public sector does not provide a back door to cheaper, lower quality imports not produced to British standards.
The NFU adds that ministers should back an ambitious marketing strategy abroad for ‘Brand Britain’ and deliver domestic policies and investment so farmers can continue to produce world-leading food, while delivering benefits for the environment, economy and climate.
Mrs Batters, from Wiltshire and a joint founder of the promotional group Ladies in Beef with Devon farmer Jilly Greed, said delivering a comprehensive report into food security and taking action in response would show the Government is “serious and ambitious” about boosting sustainable food production in Britain, reducing the reliance on imports which often fall below UK standards of production.
“If our Government truly backs the potential of British food and farming, the country could see huge benefits. British farmers could increase the industry’s economic contribution and provide more nutritious, affordable, climate-friendly British food for UK shoppers and people across the world, all while bolstering domestic and global food security.”