NFU wants fair deal from peat policy changes
UK growers should not be put at a competitive disadvantage by plans to phase out the use of peat in horticulture, the NFU has warned.
The NFU will be seeking the views of its members following today’s announcement by Defra that it has launched a consultation aimed at phasing out the use of peat in professional horticulture by 2030 at the latest and eliminating peat use in the amateur gardening market by 2020.
NFU horticulture adviser Dr Chris Hartfield questioned who would pay the cost of peat replacement and said the NFU was committed to ensuring the consultation would result in a fair deal for UK growers.
"Growers have invested and continue to invest heavily in peat replacement, they support the protection of peatland sites of conservation value, and they question the sustainability of their inputs and are committed to changing their management practices accordingly," added Dr Hartfield.
"The consultation estimates the phase-out of peat use in professional horticulture will cost £385 million. The key question to be resolved is who will pay this cost. To date the cost of peat reduction has been borne by growers and the growing media industry but Defra’s own report has stated that these costs cannot be borne by the industry in future.
"Going forward it is also vital for us to ensure any policy does not place UK growers in an unfair position compared to their competitors abroad. It would be wholly unacceptable to continue to allow the import of plants potted in peat, or indeed any products grown in peat media, if UK growers were effectively banned from using peat.
"Over the coming weeks the NFU will be seeking the views of its membership, and wants to work closely with other stakeholders, to ensure this consultation results in effective protection of the natural environment and a fair deal for UK growers."
The consultation is spearheaded by natural environment minister Richard Benyon. Defra intends that the policy decisions and peat reduction targets made following this consultation will be included in the Natural Environment White Paper, due for publication in early 2011.
