NFU responds to Natural Environment White Paper
The NFU will work closely with Government to find solutions to protecting the environment while producing more food, following today’s publication of the Natural Environment White Paper.
Attending the launch of the White Paper, NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said farmers, who manage 75 per cent of the country’s land surface, would play a crucial role in any future activities.
"We welcome the offer to work with Government and others to find solutions to the challenge of conserving our environment more effectively and producing more food at the same time - the NFU has long argued for the need to produce more but impact less," he added.
"There are good reasons to feel optimistic and there is a chance to build on good will and progress in recent years, if the encouragement is there.
"We, as an industry, need to be better at the science and application of environmental production just as we need to get better at the science and application of food production - our focus is on finding solutions that are practical rather than finding people or activities to blame.
"The White Paper will need to be more convincingly joined up in its messaging and delivery on environmental priorities, so instead of a sectorial approach which would see wildlife, water quality, soil management, climate change and so on all separately promoted, we want to see a plan for meaningful activities that all farmers can apply on their farms.
"The White Paper’s targets on peat are disappointing. While we support the Government’s ambition to reduce peat use in horticulture, the aim to reduce this to zero by 2030 is not supported by the available evidence. Further reduction in peat use will be hugely challenging for the industry, so we support the formation of a Task Force to tackle this challenge.
"Initiatives like the Campaign for the Farmed Environment and the Voluntary Initiative on pesticides, which bring together all stakeholders, are solution-focused and evidence-based and they can all play a full part in translating the White Paper into reality."
