Gareth Davies MP has strongly welcomed that farmers both locally and nationwide will benefit from a new package of support announced today by the Prime Minister ahead of the UK Farm to Fork Summit at 10 Downing Street.
This significant package includes a commitment to protect their interests in future trade deals, support to boost domestic fruit and vegetable production, and new investment in technologies.
To build on the £24 billion a year generated by our food and drink exports, farmers’ interests will be put at the heart of trade policy through a new framework for trade negotiations, committing to protect the UK’s high food and welfare standards and prioritise new export opportunities.
With millions more invested in British food and drink shows and campaigns, we will also build on our existing overseas network with five additional agri-food and drink attaches who will spearhead the removal of restrictive market barriers.
This package also takes steps to ensure that British farmers are supported to continue to lead on innovative farming technologies, including up to £30 million of investment to drive forward the use of precision breeding technologies, building on the £8 million already invested over the last five years and the passing of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act earlier this year.
The Government are also ensuring that farmers get a fair price for their produce, using new powers under the Agriculture Act to improve transparency and contracts in the pork and dairy markets, and further measures such as reviews into fairness in the horticulture and egg supply chains and a commitment to a standalone Grocery Code Adjudicator.
Finally, there are also plans to cut the red tape on farmers diversifying their incomes, such as repurposing farm buildings to use as shops, with a call for evidence later this year, as well as increasing water security by accelerating work on water supply infrastructure.
Representatives from the whole food supply chain will come together at No.10 later for the UK Farm to Fork Summit to identify ways to boost growth, drive innovation, and improve sustainability.
