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Food 2030 highlights farming’s ‘massively important’ role, says CLA The CLA says that Food 2030 - the Government's new food strategy announced by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn - recognises the importance of food security but needs more on actual delivery. Douglas Chalmers, Director CLA North said: "Food 2030 recognises the importance both of food security and of those who would provide it – farmers and land managers. Of course we all need food, but we must recognise that farming also "feeds" other economic activity. "Using figures from 2009, the North West's Food and Drink Industry, including retail, catering, manufacturing and farming is worth over £9.5 billion - more than 10% of the regional economy, and employs almost half a million people. The Paper also acknowledges that food production has shaped "the character of our landscape and our countryside". Until the fairly recent introduction of environmental schemes the landscape was effectively a by-product of agricultural practices, so this will refute the simplistic arguments of those who claim that intensification of farming techniques destroyed the environment. "Farmers are already meeting the call to "impact less" while producing more food, by smarter use of inputs, and the industry's production of methane has reduced by 17% in the last 20 years. "The Paper talks about doubling investment in research and development, which is sorely needed and would help us to produce more with less impact. It is also cheering to note the recognition that voluntary co-operation such as Campaign for the Farmed Environment is preferred to additional regulation. "However, we are very aware that while these positive messages are being sent out, other Government Agencies still talk about restricting stocking levels in the uplands or abandoning fertile, productive farmland to the sea. It also appears that the Government is still intent on eliminating EU agricultural support and border protection, even though this could mean fewer but larger farms, less home production and more imports over which we would have no control of production methods. This would also mean the UK is isolated from the EU debate on the CAP. "Of course we must ensure we feed ourselves without wrecking the world we live in, but farmers and land managers have a long and proven track record of "looking after the land for future generations". The products of land management, whether food, water, renewable energy, fibre, building materials, flood and carbon management or biodiversity are becoming increasingly important to us all and, with uncertain economic, climatic and political conditions in the world, we should ensure we have a home-based infrastructure." |
Contact Douglas Chalmers
Douglas is from an Aberdeenshire farming family and trained as an animal nutritionist after graduating from the University of Aberdeen. He held technical and management positions in the agricultural supply industry for 20 years prior to joining the CLA in 2001 as North West Regional Director. He is Chairman of Cumbria Fells & Dales RDPE Local Action Group, Vice Chairman of the North West Rural Affairs Forum, a Governor of Myerscough College and a member of Cumbria Local Access Forum. He and his wife own a small farm near Appleby-in-Westmorland keeping Herdwick sheep and free-range poultry, and where he has helped his wife to form Learning Fields, a Community Interest Company offering educational and environmental activities there. He is also a member of Eden Time Bank. T: 01748 907070 F: 01748 907075 douglas.chalmers@cla.org.uk Have a problem - need advice? North West Office Aske Stables
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