Agriculture has been “firmly on the political agenda” during the campaign, with many organisations campaigning for a change to the current farming policy.
The agri-business, Cefetra Grain feels “heartened” to see farming organisations call on changes to the farming policy, ahead of the election on July 4.
Manager of Cefetra Grain, Simon Wilcox said:
“It has been heartening to see leading farming organisations raise the key issues that matter to businesses like ours and so many colleagues across the full range of agricultural sectors.
“We will await the outcome of the general election and hope those in power work with farming to shape a stronger future for us all.”
The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has called for the establishment of a new food security index and target, as well as, a “smooth and seamless transition” to new environmental schemes.
Wilcox added that the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) wants the next UK government to deliver on the Powering Productivity for Sustainable UK Food Security report recommendation.
The manager of Cefetra said that farmers will welcome these approaches which could help the agriculture industry “recover from the shocks” from inflation.
Policy change
Meanwhile, Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G) published a manifesto calling for “radical policy change” ahead of the general election.
OF&G said it is targeting policymakers and has set out a framework for change based on the four principles of the organic food and farming movement – health, ecology, fairness and care.
Chief executive of OF&G, Roger Kerr, said the future of food and farming is becoming a “political hot potato”.
Kerr added that the country needs policies that create jobs, improve rural livelihoods while “delivering sustainable and economically viable” food and farming systems.
He continued: “The long-term effects of recent policies are still unfolding, but the need for action is urgent. One thing is clear – we must aspire to accomplish more.”
