Defra Secretary Michael Gove has said improved animal welfare and education in agriculture and food production is a "public good" and worthy of more investment.
At today's NFU Conference (20 February), the Defra Secretary said he believes in investing in higher animal welfare standards and investing in improved training and education for those in agriculture and food production.
He told delegates at the conference: "We have a high baseline for animal health standards, which we will continue to enforce. However, we could also support industry-led initiatives to improve these standards, especially in cases where animal welfare remains at the legislative minimum.
"This may include pilot schemes that offer payments to farmers delivering higher welfare outcomes, or payments to farmers running trial approaches and technologies to improve animal welfare that are not yet an industry standard."
Mr Gove also said he believes the most important public good the government should pay for is "environmental protection and enhancement".
"The work farmers do to ensure our soils can sustain growth in the future, woods are planted to prevent flooding and provide a carbon sink and hedgerows and other habitats provide a home for wildlife should be properly paid for," he explained.
'Global reputation'
The veterinary industry has welcomed Mr Gove’s statement that animal welfare is a public good.
Commenting, British Veterinary Association (BVA) President John Fishwick said it is "essential" that the UK’s post-Brexit agriculture policy recognises animal health and welfare as public goods.
“If we are to maintain our global reputation for high standards of animal health and welfare and improve our trade links with the rest of the world, any future investment in the UK farming industry must be targeted at measures to maintain and enhance those standards” Mr Fishwick explained.
“After Mr Gove spoke at the Oxford Farming Conference in January, we expressed our disappointment that his vision for post-Brexit agriculture policy didn’t include animal welfare as a public good.
“We are therefore delighted at this new statement which chimes with the veterinary profession’s commitment to continually improve animal health and welfare in the UK.”
'Embracing a vision'
Rural organisation the CLA said Mr Gove's latest statement shows the Government is "embracing a vision" for a policy based on supporting profitable food production and rewarding farmers for the public benefit they deliver.
CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said: “We have been clear from the outset that under this policy 'public benefit' extends far beyond commonly understood environmental features to vital services, like rewarding high animal welfare standards, caring for the nation's soil, supporting the continuation of heritage farming communities and managing the countryside for all.
“By confirming this today the Secretary of State has laid the foundations for a policy approach that is genuinely transformational.”
Mr Breitmeyer said the "hard work" now begins to decide the details of this policy and to "dedicate sufficient funding to realise the vision".
