Stephen Morgan was appointed Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs on 12 June.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “Although we spoke earlier in the week, it was great to have Stephen Morgan out on my farm during his first week in the job to discuss how it is getting increasingly harder for us to produce the country’s food and deliver for the environment.”
During the visit, discussions covered a number of issues directly affecting farm businesses. Water management was high on the agenda and they discussed permitted development rights for reservoirs and the process for obtaining abstraction licences. These have been identified as practical barriers to improving on-farm water resilience.
Margins eroded
It was Stephen Morgan’s first farm visit following his appointment to the role and the pair had a constructive discussion about the challenges British farmers and growers are facing, particularly from rising costs, exacerbated by the war in the Middle East.
Talks also covered several other vital industry concerns, including the escalating challenges of climate change and extreme weather.
NFU President Tom Bradshaw went on to say: “I explained how British agriculture is under immense economic strain, driven by the conflict in the Middle East, with margins being completely eroded by rising costs and a lack of transparency over the pricing of fuel and fertiliser.
“Building resilience into UK food and farming is crucial. We have heard many times from this government that food security is national security – and that has to be the mindset.
Prioritising food production
“I stressed the urgent need to prioritise food production and unlock growth by giving farmers confidence to invest in their businesses. A first step would be planning and regulatory reforms that supports our farmers and growers such as permitted development rights for reservoirs and flexible abstraction licences.
“We agreed there is much work to do. But only by working together can we strengthen national food security and invest in the future of Britain's farming sector to support the vital role it performs in producing food for 70 million people and protecting and enhancing the great British countryside.”
“Building resilience into UK food and farming is crucial. We have heard many times from this government that food security is national security – and that has to be the mindset.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
