Farmers will benefit from a commitment to protect their interests in future trade deals, support to boost domestic fruit and veg production and new investment in technologies thanks to a package of support set out by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of a summit hosted at Downing Street today (16 May).
Representatives from the whole food supply chain will come together at No 10 for the UK Farm to Fork Summit to identify ways to boost growth, drive innovation and improve sustainability.
Ahead of the Summit the Government confirmed a range of measures to help strengthen the long-term resilience and sustainability of the sector and provide greater stability for farmers.
To give further certainty to the sector the Government also announced that 45,000 visas will be available again to the horticulture sector next year enabling them to plan ahead for the picking season.
Secretary of State for Food and Farming Thérèse Coffey said:
“Food production is the primary purpose of farming, and our world-leading farmers and food producers work tirelessly day-in-day-out to keep the nation fed, despite global challenges including the illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“I am delighted that today we have embarked on our next step to back British farmers and ensure a thriving food and drink sector which will see more British produce on supermarket shelves and plates both in the UK and across the globe. I look forward to working together, right across the food supply chain, to boost growth, innovation and sustainability.”
Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, said: ” The work farmers do across our country is invaluable. Real progress can be made to improving our food quality, economy and our environment through supporting farmers.
“That is why I am pleased with the measures announced by the Government today helping to provide certainty for the sector and I look forward to learning more about how this support will impact farmers in our area.”
To boost trade and export opportunities the Government has confirmed that:
- 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. The Prime Minister has written an open letter to farmers today setting out how these new principles will help the industry benefit from the trade opportunities available to us outside the EU.
- it will invest £2m to boost the programme of global trade shows and missions as well as providing £1.6m for the GREAT food and drink campaign.
- it will build on the existing overseas network with five additional agri-food and drink attaches who will spearhead the removal of restrictive market barriers.
- it will extend funding to promote seafood exports around the world with an extra £1 million between 2025 and 2028 and create a new bespoke £1m programme to help dairy businesses, particularly SMEs, to seize export opportunities particularly in the Asia pacific region.
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