Leaving the European Union will ensure the next Conservative government is able to cut 'unnecessary' red tape for farmers and get greater control over fishing waters, Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom has said.
Writing on the Conservative Home website, she said if the party is re-elected Brexit would present 'huge' opportunities for the sector.
"Farm productivity is higher than ever before," Leadsom wrote.
"However, there is still much more we can do to support innovation in farm techniques, skills development, greater resilience to disease and floods, as well as environmental stewardship and sustainability."
Mrs Leadsom said Brexit is an opportunity to emerge from a period of great national change 'stronger and more prosperous than ever before.'
"Our priorities are simple: to grow more, sell more and export more Great British food, and to be the first generation to leave our environment in a better state than we inherited it."
'Sustainable growth'
The party pledges to bring 'sustainable growth' to rural and farming communities, so that people in these areas can have the same opportunities as those who live in towns and cities.
Prime Minister Theresa May launched the Conservative manifesto earlier this month. She says she is determined to grow more, sell more and export more British food.
The manifesto states that she wants to bring more stability to farmers as the UK leaves the EU.
It also stated that the Conservatives will work with each devolved nation to work on a new agri-environment scheme, to be introduced in the following parliament.
Funding
Mrs Leadsom said there is still much more to do to support innovation in the farming sector and said it was important to commit to the same funding levels as CAP.
"If elected on June 8, Theresa May’s Conservatives will commit to the same spending on farming and food production over the next Parliament as is now provided by the EU’s Common Agriculture Policy.
"As we translate the body of European law into our domestic regulations, it means that the rules around the environment, food and farming will be set in the UK."
