Key Takeaways:
- The UK government has unveiled a comprehensive farming and food sector support package.
- The measures aim to boost domestic food production, foster innovation, and recruit future industry leaders.
- The package includes a new Blueprint for Growing the UK Fruit and Vegetable Sector.
- The government will introduce a Food Security Index to monitor and safeguard food security.
- Additional support will be provided for farmers affected by wet weather to ensure fairness in the food supply chain.
On Tuesday, May 14, the UK government announced a major package of measures to support farmers and grow the UK’s farming and food sector. The announcement was made at the Farm to Fork Summit hosted by the Prime Minister at Downing Street. The new measures are designed to enhance domestic food production, drive innovation in the sector, and recruit the next generation of farming and food leaders.
Blueprint for Growing the UK Fruit and Vegetable Sector
The new Blueprint for Growing the UK Fruit and Vegetable Sector is a key component of the package. This plan outlines how industry and government can collaborate to increase domestic production and drive investment into this sector, valued at over £4 billion to the UK economy.
Environment Secretary Steve Barclay emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Food security is vital to our national security, which is why today’s summit is so important, bringing together government and key representatives from the farming and food sector at Downing Street.”
Measures Included in the Plan
The plan includes several strategic measures:
- Access to Resources: Ensuring the sector has access to affordable, sustainable energy and water.
- Reducing Red Tape: Cutting planning regulations to make it easier and quicker to build glasshouses.
- Boosting Innovation: Doubling the funding for horticulture businesses to £80 million, compared to the EU legacy Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme.
- Improving Fairness: Introducing regulations to improve fairness in the fresh produce and egg sectors.
Farming Minister Mark Spencer remarked, “This government will always back British farmers. Food production is the primary purpose of farming, and our farmers and food producers work hard to keep the nation fed despite challenges, including flooding.”
Food Security and Support for Farmers
The Summit also saw the publication of the first draft of the Food Security Index, which will provide key data and trends to help safeguard the UK’s food security. This tool will allow the government and industry to monitor short-term trends across the UK.
The government has outlined additional support for farmers affected by wet weather in response to recent adverse weather conditions. Measures include extending the Farming Recovery Fund and providing £75 million to support internal drainage boards. The aim is to help farmers recover from winter storms and modernize assets to enhance resilience.
Fairness in the Food Supply Chain
The government is also ensuring fairness across the food supply chain. New regulations will improve fairness in the fresh produce and egg sectors, ensuring that producers and buyers have written agreements. This move is expected to bring stability and security to the supply chain.
Innovation and Investment
The government is committed to fostering innovation within the farming sector. This includes increased support for automation and robotics to reduce reliance on migrant labor and boost productivity. The Genetic Improvement Networks will receive up to £15 million in funding over the next five years to enhance breeding research for key UK crops.
Support for Mental Health and Infrastructure
In addition to economic measures, the government has announced £500,000 in funding for projects supporting mental health in the farming sector. This funding will benefit organizations like the Lincolnshire Rural Support Network, YANA, and The Farmer Network.
The government also plans to introduce a mandatory scheme for sheep carcass classification and price reporting to ensure that sheep producers are paid fairly based on carcass quality. Additionally, £3 million in support will be provided for new and mobile abattoirs to boost the sustainability and efficiency of smaller abattoirs across England.
Photo by Red Zeppelin on Unsplash