NFU President Minette Batters has stressed the need for a comprehensive food strategy which sets out a collaborative vision of the future of food in Britain.
Speaking at the Egg and Poultry Industry Conference (EPIC), which was chaired by NFU chief poultry adviser Gary Ford, Batters said: “The Agriculture Bill and a new policy offer a once-in-a-generation chance to influence our course for the future and we must seize it by setting out a clear vision of where we want to be post-Brexit.
“To do this we need a proactive plan which joins the dots between farmers and the wider food manufacturing industry, and builds a brand based on the integrity and standards of British food.
“Looking beyond Brexit, I see a progressive food and farming industry which focuses on four key areas – moral imperative, health and nutrition, integrity and standards, and working with nature –and delivers for all corners of society while fulfilling our moral obligations in a global economy and a changing world.
“As an industry our futures are inextricably linked and we will face many common and pressing challenges in the months ahead. We must work together to seize the opportunities we have been given and strive for a future united by food.”
Sir Peter Kendall, chair of AHDB, former president of the NFU and arable and poultry farmer, told delegates they must work more closely together to built a British brand that other countries would buy into post-Brexit. He said other nations, such as The Netherlands, placed far more national value on their agricultural industry and as a result were now the second biggest food exporter in the world.