Farmers for Action (FFA) spokesperson, William Taylor, has cited the absolute priority for food security levels in the UK to be increased.
Taylor told Agriland: “This issue now represents a national emergency.
“The latest figures indicate that food security levels in the UK are about to dip below 60%, with farmers in Northern Ireland providing 14% of this overall total.”
Taylor attended the recent Save British Farming Press Day, held in London. The event saw a number of speakers highlight the dependency of Britain on food imports.
Food security
Taylor said: “These supplies could be put at absolute risk in the event of future conflicts impacting on one or other of the world’s food producing hubs.
“And we are already seeing this, up to a point, where Ukraine is concerned.”
According to the FFA representative, enhanced levels of food security can only be achieved by putting real money in farmers’ pockets.
“Government must act to ensure that farmers receive prices that cover their costs of production while also allowing them to invest in the future of their businesses,” he said.
In Taylor’s view, getting back to basics – from a land management perspective – will be at the core of a future commitment to enhance food output across the UK.
“There are vast tracts of land that would benefit from a combined liming, drainage and fencing programme.
“Steps of this nature were taken in the past: it’s time to re-visit these issues again,” Taylor explained.
FFA
Alongside food security, the issue of food production standards also sits at the very heart of the myriad issues that FFA is campaigning on at the present time.
And these matters have been further exacerbated by recent trade deals entered into by the UK government with a number of the world’s food producing powers.
According to the FFA spokesperson, there is now a growing perception that recent trade agreements involving the UK, Australia and New Zealand will trigger a domino effect.
This will be centred on similar trade deals, which will allow for the dumping of low standard food imports on the UK public.
“The only way forward in these circumstances is for the UK to significantly enhance its indigenous levels food production.
“And this can be achieved if the proper support polices are put in place by the Westminster government.
“Currently, 13 family businesses are leaving the farming industry each day. And they are not being replaced,” Taylor stated.
