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Making life better for people by inspiring solutions to environmental problems

Foot and Mouth Crisis

Friends of the Earth is deeply disturbed that the foot and mouth outbreak is continuing to spread. We sympathise with farmers who are having to watch as their livelihoods and, in some cases, their life's work being incinerated.

We urge everyone to follow the Government's guidance on avoiding going onto farmland and respect footpath closure notices until this outbreak is under control. Friends of the Earth is also very concerned about the impact on other rural industries, such as tourism. This illustrates that a crisis in the farming and food chain can have far bigger implications and this has to be taken into account when assessing the true cost of food production.

The commitment from Mr Blair that the Government will hold a review of intensive farming is most welcome and he should ensure that this is as broad as possible so that future farming disasters can be avoided. We need root and branch reforms of how food is produced, processsed and traded to ensure that it is safe to eat and produced in an environmentally and economically sustainable way.

What we think

Farmers need to get a fair income for their work if they are to remain in business and care for wildlife and landscape.

Friends of the Earth will now be putting pressure on Government to follow up Mr Blair's pledge with firm action to move towards sustainable farming including:

• re-direct production subsidies to support smaller farmers through agri-environment schemes eg additional support for organic farming and countryside stewardship
  
  
• a moratorium on GM crop planting pending a review of whether GM crops fit in with sustainable farming
  
  
• protection of farmers from unjust trading policies by the large food manufacturers and retailers, including the role of the WTO and the effects of globalisation
  
  
• development of a strategy to expand organic farming to 30% of land by 2010 to meet consumer demand
  
  
• regional action plans to reinvigorate local food production and retailing
  
  
• eco taxes on farm chemical (pesticides and fertilisers) to raise money to support farmers wishing to move away from environmentally damaging intensive production systems
  
  
• a government strategy for sustainable farming and food production to be in place by mid 2002

Further information

FOE calls for action on agriculture - a press release detailing our response to Tony Blair's pledge to review farming in Britain

The economic benefits of farmers markets (PDF† format) - This briefing sets out the economic, social and environmental benefits with recommendations for Government, local authorities and regional development agencies.

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.