The NFU has hosted MPs, peers and advisers from across the political spectrum to highlight why any new farming policy needs to be productive and profitable.
Just hours after Defra’s ‘Health and Harmony’ consultation closed, the NFU briefed MPs on its proposals and galvanised political support for food production, trade and the farmed environment in any future policy.
The government has received more than 44,000 responses for Defra's consultation on the future for food, farming and the environment once the UK leaves the EU.
In the last week alone, nearly 20,000 responses were submitted to its consultation, which closed on Tuesday 8 May.
It is considered the biggest government consultation on farming since 1947.
Farmers, food producers, environmentalists and those in the wider industry, shared their views on everything from the support the government gives to farmers to the broader direction of policy post-Brexit when it comes to the natural world.
Throughout the 10 week consultation, Defra hosted 17 events across the country alongside groups including the National Trust, NFU and the Eden Project, to hear from more than 1,250 representatives of the UK’s food and farming sectors.
'Productive sector'
The NFU marked the end of the consultation by hosting politicians across all three major parties in the open forum.
The union said it wanted to highlight why new agricultural policy should "enable a productive and profitable British farming sector that continues to produce affordable food".
The NFU has frequently highlighted its concerns that Defra Secretary Michael Gove's vision for post-Brexit farming focuses too heavily on environmental measures rather than domestic food production.
Those who attended the event were given a copy of the consultation response and spoke with both NFU President Minette Batters and members of the NFU’s dedicated Brexit team.
NFU President Minette Batters said: “It was really encouraging to see so many politicians drop into our event today as it demonstrates they understand what a pivotal moment this is for the UK farming and horticulture industry.
“Their reaction to our response has been very positive so far and I look forward to engaging with members of both the House of Commons and Lords to help deliver the NFU’s vision for the future of food, farming and the environment.”
Responses to the consultation will now be analysed and the government will publish a response shortly.
