Farm leaders call on politicians to prioritise food production amid Brexit talks

European farm leaders have joined forces in Brussels appealing to UK and EU politicians to prioritise food production as Brexit talks are underway.

With less than a year until the UK leaves the European Union, top farming figures from Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK reiterated the need for certainty for farm businesses at a high-level meeting.

The leaders demanded that politicians on both sides prioritise the business of food production during the Brexit negotiations. They reiterated the importance of a strong partnership in UK-EU agri-food trade.

President of German farmers' association (DBV), Joachim Rukwied, emphasised that the link between the UK and the common market must remain as close as possible.

He called for a "solid, comprehensive and sustainable agreement" with the UK, with duty-free trading a top priority.

Nearly two thirds of the UK's food exports go to the EU and 70% of UK food imports come from the EU, and the farming industry believes it should be maintained as much as possible post-Brexit.

EU agri-cooperative Copa and Cogeca believes that the UK should remain in the single market and customs union. It spoke of "serious concerns" about the potential impact on farmers and agri-businesses on both sides as a result of Brexit.

In the UK, the Farmers' Union of Wales has said the evidence supporting the need to remain in the single market and customs union after Brexit is now "incontrovertible", and calls for "common sense to prevail".

The latest Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) ‘Horizon’ document highlights the risks faced if Britain leaves the EU without easy, tariff-free access to the single market, with Less Favoured Area livestock farm incomes particularly hard hit, falling to negative figures in the worst case scenario.

However, despite warnings from the industry, the government has recently ruled out continued membership of the customs union. On Monday morning (23 April), Number 10 declared its position: “We will not be staying in the customs union or joining a customs union.”

'Frictionless trade'

Marc Calon, President of Dutch farming union LTO Nederland, told the meeting in Brussels that the UK has always been one of the most reliable trade partners.

“It is fundamentally important to make workable agreements on product standards and strive for frictionless trade. This is especially vital for perishable products like flowers and fruits and vegetables,” Mr Calon said.

President of the Danish Agriculture and Food Council Martin Merrild said a future relationship that maintains a level playing field between the UK and EU is vital.

“This means protecting the standards – the product standards as well as the production standards – on both sides of a future border. If this is achieved we are able to continue to provide high quality, sustainably produced food at competitive prices to the consumers,” Mr Merrild said.

NFU President Minette Batters added: “UK farm businesses are the foundation of a thriving food chain that supports vital jobs and contributes massively to the UK economy. This is mirrored across the EU.

“Inside or outside of the EU we need an environment that allows us to be as efficient, innovative and competitive as possible.”