The National Farmers' Union has urged the Government to ensure food production is at the heart of the Agriculture Bill as its heads for its Second Reading today.
The Agriculture Bill enters into a crucial Second Reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday (10 October), setting out a range of industry and political views.
First published on 12 September 2018, it sets out how farmers and land managers will in future be paid for “public goods”, such as better air and water quality and improved soil health.
The Second Reading will set the agenda for the Committee Stage of the Bill, which will see detailed amendments tabled and voted upon.
The NFU has used the beginning of the Second Reading to urge Government to drive any future agricultural policy towards that of ensuring food production is profitable, safe and secure.
The union has set out priorities for an agricultural policy that recognises the role of farming and the services it provides to the nation including food, plants and flowers, energy and environmental management.
It says the Bill should promote the nation’s strategic priorities by supporting domestic agriculture to ensure food security, and promote improvements in the competitiveness and financial resilience of farm businesses, helping farmers to better manage risk and periods of poor market returns.
A multi-annual budgetary framework is also needed, according to the NFU, which would provide certainty for farmers and allow them to plan and invest for the future.
'Once-in-a-generation'
NFU President, Minette Batters said the Agriculture Bill offers the Government a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to shape the future of farming policy.
“A Bill that has an explicit and clear overarching agricultural focus, with food production at its heart, can ensure farmers continue to deliver sustainable food while maintaining our high environmental and animal welfare standards,” Mrs Batters said.
“As showcased during Back British Farming day, it is clear that British food and farming has overwhelming support from parliamentarians. We have seen it on countless occasions and today I am urging them to continue backing British farming by ensuring food production is at the heart of this Bill.
The NFU President added: “British farmers and growers deliver the high-quality, traceable and affordable food that the British public expect and support. It is vital that a future policy enables British farmers to continue doing what they do best – producing food for the nation.”
A lot of industry comment has focused on whether the Bill has the right balance of measures between incentivising environmental protection and supporting productivity.
For example, the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) has challenged MPs to "grasp the enormity" of setting out new farming policies during the Second Reading, and the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has called for more certainty on Government funding plans for the industry post-2022.
However, following the release of the UN's IPCC report which highlights how a further half a degree of extra warming on the planet will affect hundreds of millions of people, UK environmental groups and green advocates have called for sustainable farming practices to be advocated in the Agriculture Bill.
