Archived press release

Vision Impaired

27 November 2001

Campaigners slam farm blueprint

Friends of the Earth described as 'vision impaired' the farming blueprint [1] which is the subject of today's DARD conference [2]. The campaign group listed the twelve flaws it had identified in the blueprint document, and called for a proper debate on the future of food and farming:

1. The Vision is fatalistic in accepting globalisation as inevitable. The report's authors [3] believe that the only option open to farming in Northern Ireland is to compete on global markets, despite the adverse consequences - fewer farms, fewer farmers and rural decline.

2. The Vision acknowledges the imperative to tackle climate change but its focus on export markets will mean transporting food over long distances, so contributing to climate change.

3. The Vision acknowledges the opportunities arising from 'localisation' but fails to suggest ways in which they might be exploited, preferring to focus on global markets.

4. The Vision does not recommend that the Minister urge the UK Government to start the process within the EU to remove food and agriculture from the control of the World Trade Organisation.

5. The Vision has a narrow view of 'efficiency', based on cost of production or output per person, which will only lead to intensification and unsustainable farming. Modern definitions of efficiency consider: the availability of the best food for everyone; the protection of the countryside and wildlife; the humane treatment of farm animals; and the health of the rural economy.

6. The Vision aims to 'delight' consumers, however the Vision Group [3] did not include anyone to represent consumer interests, and the report has nothing radical to say about two important consumer concerns - genetic modification (GM) and pesticide residues.

7. The Vision does not recognise the competitive advantage to be gained by making Northern Ireland a GM free region.

8. The Vision does not aim to end pesticide residues in our food, and fails to recommend that the Minister urge the UK Government to introduce a tax on pesticides.

9. The Vision's support for organic farming is only luke-warm.

10. The Vision will do nothing to release farmers from the supermarket 'armlock'.

11. The Vision says nothing at all about 'food poverty'.

12. The Vision fails to recommend a radical agenda for the Minister to pursue in Europe on reform and replacement of the Common Agricultural Policy.

Friends of the Earth's Food and Farming Campaigner, Lisa Fagan said:

"Farming is in crisis and farming is at a crossroads. Now is the time for a fundamental re-think of how we farm our countryside and produce our food. The excellent leadership shown by Bríd Rodgers during the foot and mouth crisis needs to be demonstrated again now. We are calling on her to recognise that this document does not map out a sustainable way forward. She must initiate a comprehensive and inclusive debate on the future of food and farming."

Notes

[1] Vision for the Future of the Agri-Food Industry, published on 4 October 2001. The Vision report is available on the DARD web-site at www.dardni.gov.uk

[2] The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is holding a one-day conference to discuss the Vision on Tuesday 27 November 2001, at Loughry College, Cookstown.

[3] The Vision Group members are listed below:

Professor Jim Bell, School of International Business, University of Ulster;
Trefor Campbell, Moypark and Chair of Food Processing Group, Strategy 2010;
Allan Chambers, Ulster Farmers Union;
Colin Duffy, Northern Ireland Meat Exporters' Association;
Gerry Lowe, Chair, Livestock Marketing Commission;
Michael McAree, President, Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association;
Miceal McCoy, Chair, Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers' Association;
Joanna McVey, Chair, Rural Development Council;
Derek Shaw, Chair, Agri-Food Group, Strategy 2010;
Professor Seamus Sheehy, School of Agri-Business, University College, Dublin;
Will Taylor, Past President, Ulster Farmers Union;
Jo Whatmough, formerly of National Trust;
Pat Toal, Deputy Secretary, DARD;
Roy McClenaghan, Chief Agricultural Officer, DARD;
Graham Davis, IDB
Tom Stainer, Chief Agricultural Economist, DARD (Secretariat).

[4] A full briefing is available on request.

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust