PM's call for sustainable farming welcomed: FOE called for new measures2 March 2001
On 1 March, the Prime Minister promised to "work out...the basis on which we want sustainable farming for the long-term, and...what price we are all prepared to pay for that as well". FOE, a long-term critic of industrial farming, welcomed the speech but also called on the PM to examine the real costs of industrial farming urgently and to adopt radical policy changes.
Despite billions of pounds paid in official farm subsidies each year, thousands of farmers are going out of business - causing huge damage to rural communities. Repeated farm crises are costing taxpayers further millions. Vast sums of money are spent on reducing the environmental damage and public health threats caused by modern farming. In the face of these hidden costs, present policy is still presented as producing 'cheap' food.
The following measures should be adopted to shift towards a sustainable farming system:
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increased funding for agri-environment schemes and a cap on subsidies to unsustainable intensive farming. Extra financial support should be given to help farmers convert to organic production, a boom area for agriculture that also has employment and environmental benefits;
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a moratorium on GM crop planting. GM crops represent a further escalation of industrial farming and there should be a fundamental assessment of whether the technology fits with the sustainable farming systems now demanded. Also, contamination from GM crops threatens the livelihoods of conventional farmers and beekeepers;
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A review of how to protect family farmers from unfair trading practices that favour massive food companies and food retailers. The role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the effect of globalisation should be included;
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a major research programme into sustainable farming including a plan to expand the area of organically farmed land to 30 per cent by 2010 so that UK farmers can profit from the larger demand for organic food. A Private Members bill - the Organic Targets Bill - which calls for this is before Parliament. It should receive government support;
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directing the regional development agencies to work with farmers and consumers to reinvigorate local food production and retailing. This should include the provision of local abattoirs;
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a new pesticide tax with the proceeds going to help farmers reduce their reliance on chemical inputs and reflect some of the costs caused by farm chemicals to people's health and the environment.
Tony Juniper, policy and campaigns director at Friends of the Earth said: "All political parties must commit themselves to revitalising farming so it delivers high-quality, safe food, protects the environment, conserves wildlife and landscapes and underpins the revitalisation of rural communities. In the long term such an approach could actually save money. Persisting with the present unsustainable system will lead to bigger long-term costs. Thank goodness the penny has finally dropped and Tony Blair has joined the debate.
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