More action needed for sustainable farming future12 December 2002
The Government's response to the Curry Commission Report on the Future of Farming and Food recognizes the problems but doesn't go far enough in offering real solutions claims Friends of the Earth.
The White Paper provides a good analysis of the environmental, economic and social problems facing food production in the UK. But:
- It does not provide long term answers to the economic crisis in rural areas, because it doesn't adequately tackle the inequity in the food chain between supermarkets and food manufacturers and farmers. It relies too heavily on the current code of practice for supermarkets to behave fairly to the farmers who supply them.
- It relies too heavily on free trade to enable farmers to become more profitable. But it does recognize the need to use reformed CAP money to further rural development and for taxpayers' money to reward farmers for the 'public goods' they provide.
"Today's Farming White Paper recognizes the problems, offers some solutions, but, ultimately does not go far enough. Increasing dependence on cheap imported food has major impacts for exporting countries, UK farmers and the environment. Supermarkets and other food companies thrive on the global food market which they use to force down farm gate prices to levels below those needed to sustain farm businesses around the world. Transporting food round the globe also creates massive amounts of pollution and adds to global warming," said Friends of the Earth's Food Campaigner Pete Riley. "The Curry Commission was prevented from tackling the unfair balance of power in the food industry, and the White Paper fails to give farmers real hope on how their income levels will improve. This is a serious omission and could rebound on the Government as thousands of farmer leave the land, taking the skills needed to maintain the countryside for tourism and biodiversity."
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