MPs’ round-up
Farmers need clarity with new era of global trade We are fortunate to be surrounded by sumptuous nature. Each market town with its myriad charms, its unique character and sense of permanence is – to paraphrase Shakespeare – a little world. A precious stone set in the green sea. And as I’m sure you’ll have spotted, we’ve just enjoyed Great British Beef Week. Though perhaps I should clarify. Not beef as in grievance (which certainly wouldn’t be a great week), but beef as in what comes from the farms encircling us. So in Parliament we debated the successes and challenges ahead for farming. As for us all, the past year has meant unprecedented times for farmers, so I grabbed the opportunity to pay tribute to Somerset’s farming community in rising to these challenges. When we feared
Somerton & Frome MP David Warburton shops would run dry of produce early in the pandemic, our food producers ensured that fears were assuaged and demand was met. But it’s not just food production. Travelling through the glorious Somerset countryside, it’s impossible not to marvel at the contribution that farmers make to managing our landscape.
It’s interesting to highlight just some of the ways our farming is among the most sustainable in the world. To scatter examples into the wind, the greenhouse gas footprint of UK milk production is just 40% of the global average and British dairy and beef aims to be, and is fully on track to be, carbon neutral by 2040. Staggeringly, over the last 40 years, farmers across the country have increased woodland areas equivalent to four times the size of Greater London. I could go in, but I’ll spare you for now. Because, in addition, farming burns a fierce flame under our rural economy. The new and snappily titled Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership offers a wealth of opportunity across the Asian, American and Australasian continents,
with lucrative markets for our produce. While we want trade partnerships though, they must not be at the expense of food standards for our own imports. I’ve voted consistently to enshrine the Government’s guarantee of no decline in standards into law and I’ll continue to do so, while appreciating government concerns around the wording of the legislation. But we need certainly and clarity. Given the political seismic shifts over the past few years, it’s been harder than ever for Somerset’s farmers – and, indeed, for most of us – to see with clarity. I hope the Government hears us and smooths the path to give our farmers clear sight of the future. The future is bright, but these have been dark times, and we have to light the way carefully and clearly.
Golden opportunity to rebuild food chain Global logistics and ‘just in time’ procurement is all very well but an early lesson from the covid crisis has been the importance of solid supply chains. In the case of food, this means having greater selfsufficiency so that Britain is resilient in the face of events. Panic buying triggered by the pandemic saw shelves depleted, notably of staples like fruit and veg. Unhelpfully, the UK only produces 18% of its fruit needs and 55 per cent of its vegetables. Overall, our food selfsufficiency sits at 64 per cent. Interestingly, despite the rising population but with a nod to increased agricultural efficiency, that’s a rise against pre-war levels of 40 er cent. Strict rationing was required for many years, reflecting an over reliance on imports. But it is also a drop since 1984, 72
MP for South West Wiltshire Dr Andrew Murrison when our levels sat at 78 per cent. Brexit and covid are not the only incentives to improve our domestic agricultural yield. The UK’s hosting of COP26 presents opportunities for the Government to integrate its green agenda with food security.
Last week I met virtually with members of the local NFU. Minette Batters, the NFU President, has said: “The entire economy is now aiming to build back better, to build back greener. British farming can be central to that green recovery. We have a golden opportunity to place food security at the centre of our food system and become a global leader in sustainable food production.” I agree and, observing that farming must remain principally about food production, not park keeping, believe that farmer businesses are central to a net zero carbon, greener future. The Environmental Land Management scheme is the cornerstone of the UK’s new agricultural policy. It is intended as a vehicle for achieving the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan and a
commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, while supporting the rural economy. Under the scheme, farmers and land managers will be paid to improve the environment, promote animal health and welfare, and cut carbon. All of this, I very much hope, without undermining the competitive positive of the UK agri-food sector in selling domestically and exporting produce. On food security, the Government has commissioned a two-part independent review, entitled the National Food Strategy. This will feed into a policy White Paper outlining what action ministers propose taking. I will be watching for this closely since the primary purpose of farming must remain food, and at a price my constituents can afford.
