NFU Horticulture and Potatoes board chairman, Ali Capper, tells members why it’s important to keep up to date with the latest NFU news at a time when the political and supply chain landscapes are evolving faster than ever.
I’m not sure there has ever been a time where both the political landscape and food supply chain are changing at such a pace. But since last spring we have seen a referendum on EU membership, a new Prime Minister and new Secretary of State for food and farming, a snap general election, a new political focus on Brexit (both here and across the EU), and the Great Repeal Bill. In the supply chain there were retailer fines for overstating profits, Co-Op and Lidl signed the NFU Fruit and Veg Pledge, fake farm brands, aggressive price promotions at Christmas. The list goes on.
You’d be forgiven for turning your head away from all that noise and simply focussing on your own business, hoping the rest sorts itself out. But it has never been more important to understand this changing landscape and look at how to mitigate the challenges while grasping the opportunities as they arise.
For horticulture and potatoes members, there are a number of things you can do to keep up to date with the latest news. The NFU’s regular email newsletter is an obvious first port of call. Issued every two weeks, the newsletter picks out the key stories from the last fortnight which are most relevant to your sector. Included in the newsletter is an activity report, which provides a short summary of all of the key pieces of work we are working on. In fact, if you’re short on time, this is probably the most helpful document for you to keep up to date.
And then there’s our quarterly magazine which has the advantage of going into more detail than our electronic communications. The latest edition, out now, has a fantastic review of our Fit for the Future initiative, telling you all about what we have achieved since its launch a year ago.
It is useful for you to take advantage of these communication channels, but it shouldn’t all be one-way. Equally important, if not more so, is that we hear from you. In this fast evolving climate, it is critical that we understand what the most important issues are for you and your business. Speak to your local NFU advisers or regional horticulture and potatoes board representatives. Contact us via the website or CallFirst. Or get in touch directly with the Hort team at NFU HQ (all details are listed in the back of the Horticulture magazine). The NFU is about teamwork; we’re all in this together. And it is only by sticking together that we can work towards a more positive future for our sector.