Prime Minster David Cameron has vowed to boost the farming sector by £7bn by cutting red tape, protecting British foods and promoting innovation.
Mr Cameron plans to streamline the current inspection regime.
Currently, 7 regulators carry out over 125,000 farm inspections every year. He claims these inspections take up valuable time and limit farmers’ growth potential.
Mr Cameron’s main targets are to:
• Cut red tape– he wants 20,000 fewer annual inspections and the introduction of a new single Farm Inspection Taskforce
• Promote innovation – a Food Innovation Network will give small farming businesses access to the latest research and technology
• Protect British food – the number of British foods with ‘Protected Food Names’ status will rise from 63 to 200
New opportunities worth billions
The Confederation of British Industry believes the changes could provide the farming industry with new opportunities worth £7 billion.
It is estimated the Protected Food Names status alone is worth more than £900 million.
The Government hopes the reforms will drive up food and drink exports to countries outside the EU, including India, China and Brazil.
It builds on past moves that have seen more than 600 new markets opened since 2010.
These new markets could lead to the creation of more rural jobs, bring greater investment to local communities and grow the overall British economy.
Mr Cameron says farming and food production are a fundamental part of our economy and calls on the Welsh Government to follow suit and simplify inspections.
