Archived press release

Government fails to protect rainforests by rejecting new farming law

12 November 2010

The Government has today rejected a new law to curb rainforest destruction and boost UK farming, despite a Friends of the Earth campaign backed by 55,000 people and the majority of MPs voting on it (Friday 12 November 2010).

Rob Flello MP's Sustainable Livestock Bill was debated in Parliament today and supported by 62 MPs, falling short of the 100 needed for it to pass to the next stage.  While 176 MPs had pledged to back the Bill, a handful of opposing MPs were able to delay the vote until after many MPs had returned to their constituencies.

Friends of the Earth's call for a shift to planet-friendly farming was also backed by six of the UK's top ten restaurants and a range of wildlife, animal and health charities including RSPB, Compassion in World Farming and the National Heart Forum.

The new law would have required the Government to help UK farmers swap imported soy animal feed for home-grown alternatives.  Soy from plantations in South America is currently driving deforestation and leaving UK farmers vulnerable to fluctuating prices. The Government would also have been required to tackle food waste, buy greener food for schools, hospitals and care-homes and promote planet- friendly diets.

Friends of the Earth argued that the new law was needed because Government policies are failing to recognise imported soy as a problem and address its use. The Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs' business plan, published this week, does not contain any policies aimed at reducing use of the crop, the production of which is destroying rainforests and displacing communities in South America.

The level of support for the Bill led the Government to concede that the issues raised by the Bill need to be addressed. It committed to attend a conference on the issues next year and to produce a report.

Friends of the Earth's Executive Director Andy Atkins said:

"The massive level of public support for this law shows that people in the UK don't want the food they eat to trash the planet.

"By failing to support the new law, the Government has dealt a blow to the people who want to keep the rainforests off their plates - and the farmers that want to rear animals that are born, bred and fed British.

"The Government's response is totally inadequate given the scale of the problem. Friends of the Earth will continue to fight for a healthy and planet-friendly British farming sector."

Rob Flello MP said:

"Since championing this issue I've been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm for sustainable meat and dairy farming - from individuals, farmers and a wide range of organisations.

"While the Government has opposed the Bill and put forward an inadequate alternative proposal, it does at least now recognise that it must act to keep the rainforests off our plates.

"This is not the end of the fight - we will keep working to make sure the Government keeps the promises it made today."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1.   Friends of the Earth's has produced a briefing to explain 'Why we need a Sustainable Livestock Bill'.

2.   Friends of the Earth's has been calling for a new farming law for two years with its Food Chain Campaign. More than 55,000 people have pledged their support and written to their MP - along with top chefs, including Raymond Blanc of Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons (Great Milton, Oxfordshire), Simon Rogan of L'Enclume (Cartmel, Cumbria), Nathan Outlaw of Restaurant Nathan Outlaw (Rock, Cornwall), Sat Bains of Restaurant Sat Bains (Nottingham), Shane Osborn of Pied-à-Terre (London) and Phil Howard of The Square (London). The Bill is also being backed by Michael Wignall at leading restaurant The Latymer (Bagshot).

3.   For more information, see www.jointhemoovement.com.

4.   Friends of the Earth exposed the hidden link between UK farming and rainforest destruction in its 'What's Feedin Our Food' report.

5.   Friends of the Earth's report 'From Forest to Fork' reveals the UK appetite for meat and dairy destroyed an area rainforest in Brazil twice the size of Greater London last year.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust