We need a national food strategy urgently says Devon NFU Chairman

With food production under extreme pressure from climate turmoil, unsustainable returns, high costs, disease challenges, and confusion over European common agricultural policy reform, the chairman of Devon NFU has called on the government to urgently consider implementing a long-term national food security strategy.

Bampton sheep farmer, Colin Rowland, says: “Farmers make up less than two per cent of the population and we currently produce 60 per cent of the nation’s food, but we seem to have been a soft touch for both governments and supermarkets who have taken us for granted over the years.

“Supermarkets have recently been talking a good game, but there’s an old saying about leopards and spots, and they do seem to know the price (they are prepared to pay) of everything, but the value of nothing, least of all a secure domestic supply base.

“And politicians always seem to get blown off course by short-termism when we desperately need a lasting commitment to research, not least on animal health issues, such as a vaccine for Schmallenberg virus, helping safeguard productive land from flooding, and above all, a much fairer common agricultural policy based on a properly functioning market for food and applied uniformly right across the EU.

“I believe that, in the long term, farming has a good future and I thank the Devon County Show for getting back to its farming roots, spreading best practice, encouraging innovation and giving farmers the chance to engage with others in the food chain. But we need to be strong and not afraid to stand up to both supermarkets and government.”

Mr Rowland thanked the Bishop of Exeter, the Right Reverend Michael Langrish, for writing a special prayer for farmers and calling for it to be offered up by Devon’s 506 Church of England congregations on Rogation Sunday (5th May), when churches traditionally pray for agriculture and the success of this year’s harvest.

Bishop Michael said farmers were facing a crisis every bit as bad as the foot and mouth epidemic in 2001 which had ‘left a deep mark on his ministry’.

He said farming was Devon’s ‘lifeblood’ and called on consumers to support local producers and to demand a fair price for farmers from supermarkets.

Colin Rowland will be playing host to the Bishop, farming minister, David Heath, and NFU president, Peter Kendall, at the NFU’s Devon Show breakfast on Friday 17  May .