To the editor
Jenna Hegarty’s portrayal of British poultry farming in last week’s magazine is not only misleading but it foolishly risks undermining a sector that works hard to provide an affordable, safe and sustainable protein source at a time when UK consumers are facing a cost-of-living crisis.
Let’s be clear: the NFU is not calling for the government to pay to patch up older broiler units. This is not how the poultry sector operates. We are a progressive and innovative sector that stands on its own two feet, with efficiency and food safety at the heart of what we do. We proactively find ways to keep driving welfare and environmental standards forwards while meeting growing consumer demand for British chicken. We are therefore asking for support from all stakeholders to ensure poultry producers can continue to deliver an affordable and nutritious source of protein which contributes considerably to national food security.
As a sector that doesn't routinely rely on subsidies, I believe it is positive to ask for support where it is needed, something that has been missed or perhaps ignored by Ms. Hegarty. Something else that seems to have been overlooked is that support doesn't have to be financial. The NFU specifically asked for support, certainty and fairness for growers to allow them to invest in their own businesses. Why should they be expected to do this without any clarity going forwards?
Confidence is key. Farmers need to know the government supports them if they’re to invest in modern and sustainable infrastructure. If the government is serious about strengthening food security, it must back British poultry with targeted investment and planning reform.
There is one point I can agree with Ms. Hegarty on – that sustainability matters. Many of us are already investing in our businesses because it’s the right thing to do, but we know there is more to do. If we’re going to meet rising expectations and consumer demands on animal welfare and the environment, then we need to have this meaningful support to help us to continue this vital work.
British poultry farming is part of the solution. To achieve all this alongside the ability to compete with imports, often not produced to the same aspiring welfare and environmental standards than we do, we need a sector where producers have the confidence to invest in the future.
With the right support, we can continue to feed families with affordable British poultry while protecting the environment and strengthening the wider economy. Facing challenges like climate change, avian influenza and fairness in the supply chain highlights the need for collaboration more than ever. Working together between farmers, policymakers and key supply chain stakeholders will be essential to ensure the sector’s long-term resilience in delivering sustainable poultry production and ultimately contributing to feeding the nation.
James Mottershead
NFU Poultry Board Chair
