Pushing for meaningful change and working together is the key to getting the best results for members over the coming year, says Martin Emmett, Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair.
Lay of the land
In his opening speech at the sector’s breakout session he championed the NFU wins such as the progress made on supply chain fairness and the hopes for positive outcomes following the EU/UK alignment and resulting changes to border controls, but he also emphasised the work that still needs to continue on a long-term seasonal worker scheme, the employer pays principle and a replacement for the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme.
“We have made progress on fairness in the supply chain, and I think this is a definite win for the NFU,” said Martin. “There is a team working very carefully on this and it’s encouraging that we are going to get a very usable outcome.”
‘Keep the pressure on’
Speaking about the EU/UK alignment, Mr Emmett said he had invested a lot of time trying to address the jeopardy that growers are still experiencing at our border control points in respect of plant health inspections and says that at the very least from the EU/ UK alignment he is hoping that we will see these removed.
“There will still be border controls and customs will still want to make interceptions, but that point of inspection at the border, which I and many in this room never thought was an appropriate mechanism to get the job done property, should go and all those time delays, the paperwork and the damage being caused will hopefully be coming to an end.
“I want to stress we must not take that for granted. There is still a lobby that would like inspection as the border. So, we haven’t got it until we get it over the line. It’s something we need to keep the pressure on and I’ll ensure we do that.”
Employment update
On the employment front, Martin reveals the NFU did have progress talking to SEDEX about Employer Pays Principle, part of the SMETA standard, which, he added, “is a completely inappropriate standard”.
He said: “It’s inappropriate not just on a commercial basis, but how can this be in the best interest for our potential seasonal employees?
“SEDEX are doing a consultation at the moment, it doesn’t ask what you think about the standard itself, but I would ask if you are in a position to get involved in that consultation please do and please let your thoughts be known.”
“We will work together and we will get the best settlements for our sector.”
NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board Chair Martin Emmett
Parity needed
Martin says one area that is encouraging is the Food and Farming Partnership Board, which will meet for the first time in March and that Horticulture will be getting a sector plan, which will be a priority, but we await details of the scope of this and whether it will include ornamentals, potatoes and viticulture.
He said: “I’m encouraged to hear from Emma Reynolds today the NFU will have a seat at the table and be part of setting out that plan.”
It also doesn’t solve the issue of POs and what might replace the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme.
Martin added: “We are about to go into a closer economic trading relationship with Europe against a European industry that is still going to benefit from something looking very like the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme that we used to have and our ask is that we get parity with that and that such a scheme will be available for the whole sector and not just POs. This is an issue we are still pressing on.”
Martin concluded that successful outcomes can only be achieved through everyone working together.
He said: “We do have an opportunity here and we are going to our best to deliver for you but we are always going to do it with the help of all the trade bodies and associations. We will work together and we will get the best settlements for our sector.”
Meet the speakers:
Martin Emmett
NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair
He is a director of Tristram Plants, part of the Farplants co-operative which grows and markets over 2000 plant varieties and generates more than £50 million annual sales through retail.
Tim Rooke
NFU Potato Policy Group chair | NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board vice chair
He farms in partnership with his brother and has a mixture of tenanted and owned farms. He also grows wheat, oats, and oilseed rape.
Previously, he has been a member of United Potato Farmers Limited, a director of Alpha Group, and member of the AHDB potatoes marketing group.
Stephen Shields
NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board vice chair
A fourth generation family-owned business based in Southport, Huntapac supplies the major retailers with root vegetables. He has been with the business since 2006, but his career in fresh produce spans over 20 years and a total 32 years in the food industry.
Stephen has also played a key role across a number of customer facing working groups and also sits on the Red Tractor Fresh Produce Board and the Horticultural Crop Protection Board.
Luc Vanoirbeek
General Secretary, VBT (Association of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives) | Chairman, Copa Cogeca Fruit and Vegetables Working Party
He holds a master degree in political and social sciences.
Luc worked for the Belgian Farmers’ Union from 1986 until 2018.
He started as chairman of the young farmers and ended up as spokesman of the organisation.
During his entire career he was committed to the fruit and vegetable sector in all the aspects of the business.
In 2018, he became general secretary of the VBT (Association of Belgian Horticultural Cooperatives) and a year later, he became chairman of the Copa Cogeca's Fruit and Vegetables Working Party.
David Wilford
Head of AHDB sponsorship, arable and horticulture Sectors, Defra
Over a 35-year career in Defra – and MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) – he has performed a wide range of roles including as an adviser in ADAS, UK representation in Brussels, the national FMD response, Ministerial Private Office, CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) negotiations, agri-tech policy and seasonal labour.
He has also had spells seconded into the No. 10 policy unit, Farming and Food Inquiries, local government, the G20 Secretariat and PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) consulting.
He has represented Defra in over 30 countries and continues to work on the international stage through his role as the chair of the (U.N) International Sugar Organisation Committee.
David is married with two teenage boys and lives in Ilkley, West Yorkshire.
He also helps to run the family business – a corporate communications SME (small and medium-sized enterprises) providing financial reporting for listed companies.
Christine McDowell
NFU horticulture and potatoes senior policy specialist
Prior to joining the NFU in 2015, Christine worked across the commercial and supply chain roles within one of the UK largest fresh produce manufactures and is an MDS alumni graduate.
