EU urged to unlock 'huge' horticulture potential
EU policy makers have been urged to unlock the huge potential for the UK’s horticulture and potatoes sector by tackling Europe’s regulatory burdens, the NFU have said.
Herefordshire soft fruit grower and NFU horticulture and potatoes board vice-chairman Anthony Snell was speaking at a high level hearing on the future of horticulture in the European Parliament today.
Snell told MEPs that he was “extremely upbeat” about the future of UK horticulture, but he said the EU had an important role to play to unlock the sectors’ potential.
“Take producer organisations,” he said. “Today the UK is one of only two EU member states that have a negative trend in the number of POs in existence. The UK has lost a significant number of POs in the last five years, and last year almost half of all POs were suspended. If the European Commission is serious about wanting to encourage more growers to join POs then it is crucially important that the scheme adapts to fit the market structures that exist in a member state – this will be vital for ensuring an efficient and competitive EU horticulture industry that is able to compete in a global marketplace.”
Mr Snell was invited to speak in the parliament by Anthea McIntyre MEP who is drafting a report on horticultural policy in the EU. He said the time was ripe for change.
“This report has come at the right time. The difficult weather conditions that growers battled against last year have made it more important than ever to look at ways of shoring up the horticulture sector for the future,” he added.
“One thing I have told MEPs today is not to shoot themselves in the foot. For example the commission’s precautionary approach on the area of pesticide regulation is becoming a serious threat to the future of productive farming in the EU. We need appropriate legislative measures around the availability and sustainable use of crop protection products.
“We also need to make sure that the supply chain is fair for everyone – growers, processors and retailers. This is not the case at present in Europe. That is why we are working hard with our fellow EU farm organisations to get rid of unfair trading practices which undermine horticultural businesses and dent grower confidence to invest in the future.”
Mr Snell concluded that consumers held the key to the future viability of the sector.
“I am convinced that with some significant changes in the way that the food supply chain operates, savvy promotion of our products and the right policy signals from the commission and UK government we can ensure that our sector is fit for the future and able to meet consumer demand.”
