Friends of the Earth welcomes Farming Commission, but slams inquiry into foot and mouth9 August 2001
Friends of the Earth gave a guarded welcome to the announcement of the Policy Commission on Farming and Food, but slammed the inquiry announced into the foot-and-mouth outbreak as "totally inadequate".
Friends of the Earth is deeply worried about the terms of reference for the Policy Commission, which may prevent the it from making the radical policy changes needed to produce environmentally and socially sustainable food and farming policies.
Commenting on the Food and Farming Commission, Sandra Bell, Food and Farming Campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "We welcome the announcement of the new Commission on Farming and Food but we are deeply concerned that the Government still insists that the Commission has to present policies that fit with increased trade liberalisation. Mr Blair has to recognise that sustainable farming and trade liberalisation are not compatible. Increased trade liberalisation will mean the further collapse of small farming in this country, with the environmental and social impacts that this will bring. It also runs the risk of the greater spread of animal diseases around the world ."
She added: "The Commission has a huge job ahead of it, with confidence in the safety of our food at an all time low, and farmers reeling from crisis after crisis. It is clear that an overhaul of farming and the food system is essential. The path of intensive farming which this country has followed over the last few decades has failed farmers, the environment and consumers. We hope the Commission will present some radical options for a more sustainable future for our countryside and access to safe and healthy food for all."
Friends of the Earth believes the food and farming commission should address:
- a moratorium on GM crop planting - there should be a fundamental assessment of whether GM technology fits with the aim for more sustainable farming
- measures to significantly increase organic farming in the UK, to support farmers and help reduce imports of organic food
- a review of how to protect family farmers from unfair trading practices that favour massive food companies and food retailers - including further investigation into the power of the biggest supermarkets
- a strategy for reducing the use of pesticides and other chemical inputs
- an investigation into how local markets for UK-produced food can be developed
- how support payments can be diverted from production and into more sustainable ways of farming, including organic.
- how to ensure that safe high quality food is available to all sectors of society.
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