UK farming moving in right direction

UK farming is moving in the right direction, but success can't be achieved overnight, Sir Don Curry, chairman of Defra's Sustainable Farming and Food Implementation Group said today.

At a conference, organised by the Policy Commission and the Institute for Grocery Distribution, to mark two years since the Curry Commission reported, Sir Don said:

"Turning round an industry from potential meltdown to profitability, dynamism and success can't be done overnight. We are certainly moving in the right direction, but we must maintain our enthusiasm and momentum

"The system of support as it was in 2001 had failed and radical change was desperately needed. It was clear that subsidies were destroying the economic value of British produce. They were distorting relationships and cutting off the farming industry from its market. Reform of the entire system was urgently needed if the industry was going to be capable of success in the Twenty-First century.

"In just over a year, many of the building blocks have been put in place to enable delivery of the Strategy's objectives.

Sir Don also outlined the areas that needed attention:

- "tackling the nation's diet is a huge, complex task. We must engage

industry and all Government Departments in providing access to

healthy food to help tackle the problems of obesity and other

diet-related diseases.

- "the current power imbalance between producers and retailers has

led in many cases to a lack of trust and confidence. We need to

establish responsible and sustainable trading relationships

"regional implementation is fundamental to the success of the Strategy and much good work is ongoing in the regions. I continue to encourage the regions to help each other by sharing best practice and results of research. Implementation of the Strategy must be tailored to regional priorities but devolving power can lead to a parochial attitude. Implementation has to be balanced between the centre and the regions across the whole Strategy."

Concluding, Sir Don said:

"The Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy is a challenge to all stakeholders. Farmers, processors, food service sector, retailers, environmental groups, nutritionists and consumers all have a stake in its success:

"Although much has been done, 2005 will be the real test, the 'key year for delivery'. In January the new CAP payments will begin and the Entry Level Schemes will be rolled out, and later in the year, the Whole Farm Plan will come on stream. There is a real challenge to Government in co-ordinating the roll-out of such complex, interdependent programmes. The linkages between the programmes must be maintained and the Implementation Group is helping to ensure this is the case