NFU President warns Brassica and Leafy Salads conference that unless R&D programmes keep up, and are focussed on practical, applied research, the trend for extreme weather events may prove to be the industries biggest threat yet.
“More than ever, we need the right support, the right tools, the right products and the right technologies to produce our crops,” he told the packed conference. “The NFU has been encouraged by moves to strengthen the links between research and practise through the development of the Agri-tech Strategy; but the strategy must deliver for the long term in all sectors. We therefore need to plan in terms of a forward thinking growth strategy for UK science, not a short-term parliamentary cycle. We as the NFU lobby hard for the right policies and frameworks to be put in place to make this happen, but we need others to share that vision and help deliver the goods.”
Meurig also spoke of the NFU’s Healthy Harvest campaign which aims to re-educate government and the public on the need for plant protection products and the world-leading measures we take to ensure their absolute safety. “Over-regulation is starting to affect our ability to grow crops now and in the future, and the uncertainty of EU regulation also discourages long-term investment by global pesticide manufacturers in Europe. This stifles, rather than embraces, progressive innovation. We need the EU to move away from hazard-based to risk-based assessments and we need policy makers and consumers of the importance of crop protection.”
In his address, Meurig reflected producers’ concerns over attracting enough skilled seasonal labour after the loss of SAWS in 2013 and the decline in farmer and grower confidence since 2013. But he ended by highlighting the great achievements made by farmers and growers, outperforming other industries significantly since the recession hit in 2008.
“Despite the current challenges, I’m positive about the long term future for British agriculture and horticulture. We’re looking ahead on our farm, and at the NFU we’re looking forward as an organisation. The whole of the farming industry continues to have a great story to tell and I hope you share my enthusiasm for the future.”