Press release

Government fails to make the grade in farming

3 April 2012

The Government is still failing to reduce the impact of UK farming on our environment - despite promising to take action a year ago, a new report by Friends of the Earth reveals today (Tuesday 3 April 2012).

Agriculture Minister Jim Paice promised at a Friends of the Earth farming conference last year that the Government would "play its part" in making UK farming more sustainable, but a Friends of the Earth Report Card, based on an assessment by the environmental charity, shows progress has been mainly poor. The Report Card shows the Government has: 

•  failed to push for planet-friendly farming reforms to Common Agriculture Policy (we awarded them a D);
•  failed to encourage the use of more food waste for animal feed (they got an F in our Report Card);
•  failed to produce clearer public advice and industry guidance on healthy diets (another F);
•  missed a major opportunity to promote better ingredients and healthier menus in canteens in schools and hospitals (grade D).

However, Friends of the Earth found some progress on research into alternatives to soy for animal feed (lifting the Report Card with a B) and recognised the potential of a new government project - called the Green Food Project - which is investigating how to increase production whilst protecting the environment (grade C).

The environment charity is also urging the Government to keep its promise to announce a new Grocery Code Adjudicator Bill in the Queen's Speech - to improve the treatment of farmers by the big supermarket chains. 

Friends of the Earth Farming Campaigner Vicki Hird said:

"Ministers are failing to tackle the enormous impact food production has on our wildlife and landscapes - they must step up to the plate and insist on planet-friendly food and farming.

"There has been some progress on research into environment-friendly farming practices, especially alternatives to soy for livestock feeds but, given the enormous damage caused by the UK livestock industry, this won't make the grade.

"We can't allow our food system to cost the earth - the Government must do better."

ENDS

Notes to editor:

1.    During the second reading debate on the Sustainable Livestock Bill  (which failed to make it through the reading in November 2010) Agriculture Minister Jim Paice offered to participate in a conference of all interested parties to take stock of progress and what needed to be done and to publish a report on achievements. To facilitate this Friends of the Earth organised a Sustainable Livestock Symposium in March 2011 with key stakeholders from the farming industry along with retailers, academics and environmental NGOs.  At the event the Minister promised that DEFRA would "play its part" and would produce a 'one year on report' setting out progress in March 2012. This commitment was welcomed by Friends of the Earth.

2.    On the reform of the CAP which is under negotiations this year in Europe, Friends of the Earth is asking DEFRA to

• Publish within two months a paper outlining exactly what its policies are on CAP reform that can shift the UK towards more home grown feeds and sustainable livestock
• Include in this and in negotiations in Europe, a demand for genuinely greener subsidies that support farmers in using home grown feeds and pasture such as using crop rotations with legumes
• Make supporting payments which will specifically increase production of protein crops based on environmental concerns
• Promote payments targeted towards helping smaller farms and those with high nature value.

3.    The Report Card is drawn from research undertaken over December 2011 and January 2012, can be seen here. The report 'Sustainable Livestock Bill and Symposium: one year progress report' can be accessed here.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust