Press release
MPs call for more support for hill farmers
16 February 2011
Commenting on a new report launched today by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee, which calls on Ministers to consider reintroducing subsidies for hill farmers to help them make money out of managing the land, Friends of the Earth's food campaigner Kirtana Chandrasekaran said:
"The Government's hands-off approach to agriculture is failing our farmers and the environment.
"Grazing animals in uplands areas is good for the countryside and the global environment as it doesn't depend on vast amounts of imported inputs such as soy animal feed.
"But hill farmers are losing out to factory farming which is destroying communities and rainforests in South America because of its use of soy.
"Factory farming is currently propped up with millions of pounds of taxpayer cash - Ministers should spend this money on targeted schemes to help upland farmers protect our wildlife and cherished landscapes."
ENDS
Notes to editor
1. Uplands livestock farming is a more sustainable production system than factory farming because it doesn't rely on vast amounts of imported animal feed - but it has suffered in the past from badly designed schemes that have led to overgrazing or undergrazing. Friends of the Earth is calling for a new farming policy which ensures uplands farmers have the right support to not only reduce global impacts but help to tackle UK greenhouse gas emissions, boost biodiversity and help struggling rural economies.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Feb 2011
