A Manchester Metropolitan University lecturer has warned that a British exit from the European Union is likely to have a negative effect on the country’s farming industry.
Charlie Clutterbuck, an Associate Lecturer in Hollings faculty’s Department of Food, Nutrition and Hospitality, took part in a debate on the effect a Brexit would have on Britain’s food and farming industries.
His talk focused on the knock-on effects of the country’s cheap food and farm policy, and asked whether policy makers pursuing free market ideals really have farmers’ best interests at heart.
Charlie said: "Sadly, all too often, British Governments of whatever colour have taken a much less supportive approach to farming than they have been forced to take as members of the European Union.
"The big question we are having to answer is, ‘would this situation get better as a result of Brexit?’
"And the answer would have to be no, it is more likely to be worse.
"The main political feel behind Brexit in the UK is towards a ‘freer market capitalism’ and laissez faire economics – compared with the more ‘social capital’ of EU, where there are more protections for family farms."
Dan Crossley of the Food Ethics Council chaired the debate. He said: "For better or worse, the EU influences pretty much every aspect of the UK’s food and farming landscape, and the referendum result will have really profound implications – but many working in the field don’t know enough about what they are.
"There are a lot of factors to consider in this debate, and as organisations working for a fairer, more ecological food system, we want to make sure food and farming is high up on the agenda as we go to the polls.”
Key points
• UK governments have been made to take a supportive approach to British farming by the EU than they would like
• Less protection for family farms outside the EU
• Policy makers pursuing free market ideals do not have farmers’ best interests at heart
A podcast of the presentation is available by clicking here.
