Saturday 26 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
02/06/2009 14:32:38
International conference hears about strategic importance of cereals sector
The grains sector is strategically important and policy makers must start to take this into account if economies are to benefit from its full potential, the NFU’s Deputy President will tell a major international conference this weekend.
Speaking at the World Grain Forum in St Petersburg, Russia, Meurig Raymond will outline what the NFU sees as the key challenges and solutions for grain production and will highlight the need for governments to ensure legislation reflects the sector’s importance.
Mr Raymond will say: "Too often, food, environmental, and agricultural policies have been geared to reducing production. Despite the impact and unrest caused by higher grain prices in 2007 we sometimes have difficulty convincing our governments of the strategic value of its production. Up to now in the UK we have been successful in consistently growing abundant grain at relatively low cost. However, while the productivity gap between actual and potential yields is still wide, we see for most cereal and oilseed crops it is no longer being closed. More recently output has been standing still and lack of investment in research means necessary innovation is drying up.
"Some suggest alternative approaches to counter peaks in grain prices including holding strategic stocks as a buffer or imposing export controls when prices rise. We believe relying on policies like these damages productivity and hampers supply and distribution through trade and, in the medium to longer term, is counterproductive."
Mr Raymond will outline the need for adequate funding to be given to agricultural research and development to develop solutions to many of the challenges faced by farming – a point highlighted in the NFU’s Why Science Matters for Farming campaign.
"A key message is more output from our cropping land is the truly green option, and this must be achieved with lower environmental impact. Furthermore, we must make sure producers and processors have access to market tools to help deal with increasing price volatility, and government officials need to look again at the need to reduce the regulatory burden to help grain production and make progress on how to deal with the growing possibility of food crisis."
Speaking at the World Grain Forum in St Petersburg, Russia, Meurig Raymond will outline what the NFU sees as the key challenges and solutions for grain production and will highlight the need for governments to ensure legislation reflects the sector’s importance.
Mr Raymond will say: "Too often, food, environmental, and agricultural policies have been geared to reducing production. Despite the impact and unrest caused by higher grain prices in 2007 we sometimes have difficulty convincing our governments of the strategic value of its production. Up to now in the UK we have been successful in consistently growing abundant grain at relatively low cost. However, while the productivity gap between actual and potential yields is still wide, we see for most cereal and oilseed crops it is no longer being closed. More recently output has been standing still and lack of investment in research means necessary innovation is drying up.
"Some suggest alternative approaches to counter peaks in grain prices including holding strategic stocks as a buffer or imposing export controls when prices rise. We believe relying on policies like these damages productivity and hampers supply and distribution through trade and, in the medium to longer term, is counterproductive."
Mr Raymond will outline the need for adequate funding to be given to agricultural research and development to develop solutions to many of the challenges faced by farming – a point highlighted in the NFU’s Why Science Matters for Farming campaign.
"A key message is more output from our cropping land is the truly green option, and this must be achieved with lower environmental impact. Furthermore, we must make sure producers and processors have access to market tools to help deal with increasing price volatility, and government officials need to look again at the need to reduce the regulatory burden to help grain production and make progress on how to deal with the growing possibility of food crisis."
No Comments
Nobody has posted any comments on this story.
|
Farming items for Sale
|
New Holland T7030 - Shrewsbury(GBP 47725)
Massey Ferguson 5455 powershuttle - Tiverton(GBP 28200)
Used Massey Ferguson 6480 - Gwynedd(GBP 435061.37)
Valmet 555 - Dalbeattie(GBP 9600)
Used JCB Fastrac 2170 - York(GBP 37500)
Related News
Livestock chairman to address international conference on sheep sector future - 01 Oct 2009The chairman of the NFU’s national livestock board will address an international conference next week on the challenges facing producers in the ...
International Egg Conference Spring Conference - Venice - 06 May 2012Delegates at the International Egg Commission Spring conference in Venice at the end of March heard the recurring theme from speaker that ’Trust...
North West cereal growers need to make voices heard - 25 Oct 2007As the newly formed Cereal and Oilseed Sector company currently has no representation from the North West, the NFU believes it is crucial the region&#...
International conference discusses biofuel - 30 Jan 2008More than 1,500 agricultural experts met at the first International Conference of Ministers of Agriculture in Germany this month to discuss the subjec...
’It’s chic to be frugal’ International Egg Conference told - 15 Apr 2009That’s the message from consumers in the current recession, according to Richard Lewis of CIES, the international food business forum. Some 400 ...
PAVA to visit the VII International No-Till Conference - 23 Jun 2009On June 23-26 2009, Russian grain processor PAVA will visit the 7th International conference on Sustainable and Effective Agriculture through a System...
Delegates prepare for International Egg Conference in Canada - 25 Aug 2009Worldwide representatives of the egg industry will get together in Canada next month for a four-day conference organised by the International Egg Comm...
NFU hosts major international sugar conference in 2010 - 26 Oct 2009The NFU is to be the official host of the 2010 World Association of Beet and Cane Growers Conference. The conference will take place in Cambridge ...
Learn our lessons on supermarket abuse, Kendall tells international farming conference - 26 Oct 2011NFU President Peter Kendall has drawn on experience in the UK to encourage farming organisations across the EU and North America to campaign for tough...
GM crops must become part of cereals sector tool kit - 07 Apr 2008The National Beef Association has called for all resistance to GM crops, at both UK and EU level, to be abandoned immediately in response to seismic s...
