President Obama has headed home after talking up the value of the trade deal known as the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). If the deal progresses, what will it mean for food, farmers and consumers?
In a new report by Friends of the Earth, an international network of environmental organizations in 74 countries, they have identified 3 key areas of concern around TTIP and the impact it will have on farming.
'TTIP will be bad for farming'
The report shows TTIP will generally "be bad for farming", while in theory it will open up US markets to British producers, the lower cost of most meat and dairy products in the US means that the "value of the livestock and dairy sectors will decline.
"This will lead to less money for our farmers and a lower contribution from agriculture to our GDP.
"One study (CEPII) found that the contribution of agriculture to the UK's GDP – will go down $1.1 billion (about £765 million)."
'Threaten food safety regulations'
"In the US, meat products are subject to less stringent hygiene controls and are often washed in chlorine before going on sale.
"GM products are allowed and pesticides banned in the EU are routinely used. During negotiations the US will continue to push for these products to be sold to UK and European consumers."
'Will not improve animal welfare'
The report goes on to state American animal welfare regulations are less strict than in the UK and EU.
"TTIP will fill supermarket shelves with more meat reared to poor welfare standards and routinely injected with unnecessary antibiotics, pushing our farmers and lawmakers to lower standards to compete.
"It has been calculated that stricter welfare, environmental and hygiene standards in the EU add 5% to the cost of poultry production"
'Faceless agri-business'
Commenting on the report, Friends of the Earth campaigner, Kierra Box, said: "The majority of British farmers and consumers will lose out if TTIP goes ahead.
"TTIP risks further intensification of farming leading to farms across Europe being driven out of business. This means we could also see hard-fought for food quality standards destroyed.
"The clear danger here is that farming is being sacrificed to get a TTIP deal at any costs.
"Farmers are at the heart of our communities across Europe, not faceless agri-business.
"If we want to address climate change as well as protect our countryside we will need to move towards producing more low intensity, local food.
"We need to support farmers to grow more fruit and vegetables, not challenging them to export more meat at ever-lower prices."
What is TTIP?
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is a proposed trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, with the aim of promoting trade and multilateral economic growth.
The agreement is under ongoing negotiations and its main three broad areas are: market access; specific regulation; and broader rules and principles and modes of co-operation.
The European Commission says that the TTIP would boost the EU's economy by €120 billion, the US economy by €90 billion and the rest of the world by €100 billion.
The controversial agreement has been criticized and opposed by unions, charities, NGOs and environmentalists, particularly in Europe.
