NFU President praises Times columnist’s support for farming

Thank goodness Alice Thomson is flying the flag for farmers and food production. Farmers here in the UK and across the world need our support and Alice is right, we need more farmers, not less.

Farmers produce food at the same time as caring for our iconic countryside. On my farm and working with my farming neighbours, we have brought back nesting Lapwing to the Avon Valley. The careful management of making hay at the right time and grazing cattle, as well as protecting nests on the ground from foxes and badgers, has created the right environment for these wonderful waders to thrive again.

Ukraine produces 80% of the world's sunflower oil. Their yellow and blue flag is a symbol of wheat and blue sky. With Russia withholding vast amounts of Ukrainian grain from the world market, our world is facing into the potential of a humanitarian food crisis. We all recognise the challenges posed by global warming, but we’re also facing the challenge of 'global feeding'.

Alice was also right to challenge the stance of populist author George Monbiot and the possibility of lab-produced 'meat'. Perhaps Mr Monbiot's next book will feature how food being produced in a few laboratories might best be defended? Perhaps a conversation with President Putin might be helpful.