Dairy UK today welcomed comments from Defra Secretary Hilary Benn in support of productive UK agriculture.
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference on 6 January, Benn urged consumers to "buy more British and eat more British" food. He also said that food security and strong environmental protection went hand in hand.
Responding to the Secretary of State’s comments, Dairy UK Director General Jim Begg said: "Dairy UK wholeheartedly supports Hilary Benn’s comments in favour of buying British food and stimulating British agriculture. We have long urged the government to voice unequivocal support for our farmers and food manufacturers.
"Hilary Benn is quite right to recognise that British agriculture, food security and environmental protection go hand in hand. The UK’s vibrant dairy sector offers the best of both worlds, adhering to a set of extremely high environmental standards and committing to further improvement through the Milk Roadmap.
"Government must now transform this moral support into something more tangible. Dairy UK is calling on Defra to invest more in critical research and development and to consider the effects of red tape and regulation on food production."