The new President of the NFU has said farmers are adapting with the help of a new agricultural revolution to deliver for Britain.
Wiltshire farmer Minette Batters was elected NFU President last week, and in a new column published in The Telegraph, she has pointed out how British farmers are adapting to change.
She wrote that farming is changing, and technology is “reshaping society” which is leading to a “revolution and evolution” in the fields of Britain.
She wrote: “While farmers up and down Britain know how much we have evolved, one of my first jobs needs to be to reconnect us with the British public, to demonstrate how far we have come, and to showcase what we provide to Britain.
“We know that the British public expects high welfare, traceable and affordable food. We want to keep delivering on those things. We see them as a public good – as important as anything that society can provide.
“ But we farmers must do more to show the public how our standards are delivering for Britain, and how we are prepared to adapt to the country’s needs in the future.”
’Shout loudly with pride’
She wrote how the NFU wants British people to “shout loudly with pride” about the food Britain produces.
In her first official act as President, Mrs Batters will be giving a speech in London on Monday (26th February) that will set out this vision in the backdrop of a post-Brexit Britain.
She said that leaving the EU, the industry will have a chance to celebrate Britain’s high standards and quality food.
She wrote: “I want to drive global recognition that British food is quite simply some of the best quality food available on our planet today.”
“I want to help government take that message to potential new markets and to demonstrate that, when the world buys British, they know they are getting quality food produced safely to high standards from farmers that care for the environment.”
“We must not turn our back on the EU market, and its 450 million potential customers. But when government is looking at opening new markets, I want to be there with them representing British farmers and our story of food production, which should be the envy of the world.”
