As part of its joint session with the Food and Drink Federation, titled ‘How do we best develop a national food strategy for the UK?’, the NFU will outline how it wants to see responsible and profitable growth for agriculture.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said: “There has been much made of the appointment of Kerry McCarthy as Labour’s shadow Defra Secretary of State. We will of course be looking to meet at the earliest opportunity and hope to work closely and productively with her in the coming months to demonstrate our key asks of present and any future government.
“Labour remain as the largest opposition party in Westminster so it is important to engage with the party on areas of commonality rather than dwelling on areas of difference. Building upon the Labour Food 2030 plan, a national food plan was a key Labour manifesto pledge and that’s what we will be focusing on in Brighton.
“The event, which I hope many of our members will attend, also gives us the opportunity to talk about our new report, due to be launched in October, exploring where the greatest opportunities exist for British farmers and growers to participate more seriously in export markets; as well as exploiting more of the demand at home.
“Everybody is well aware of the crisis that has enveloped the farming industry with plummeting farm gate prices and a continued downward trend in global markets for household essentials like milk. Sustainably increasing production is a challenge I know farmers are up for, but they need to have the tools which make it possible for them to have a viable future in order to produce Great British food, such as an agri-food strategy to grow UK production and reverse the long-term decline in self-sufficiency. Now is the time for Labour to show how they intend to back British farming.”
The NFU’s and FDF’s fringe event takes place at The Queen’s Hotel, Brighton on Monday September 28.
- For details of our fringe events at all party conferences, click here.