New pan-industry partnership aims to raise farm profitability

Food and farming industry leaders have held their first meeting of the Farming & Food Partnership Board, set up in response to Baroness Minette Batters’ Farm Profitability Review, published last December.

Chaired by Defra secretary Emma Reynolds, the new board is intended to help drive policy that will deliver a more resilient food system.

See also: Batters’ Farm Profitability Review finally published

“We are working with industry to boost productivity and profitability, support innovation, drive growth and make it easier for the whole supply chain – from farm to fork – to succeed,” said Ms Reynolds.

Working in collaboration, the initial focus will be on individual “sector growth plans”, aiming to tackle barriers to growth, unlock investment, accelerate technology uptake, and boost farm returns.

First out of the blocks will be a new horticulture plan, with the aim of increasing domestic production.

This will be followed this summer by a poultry plan – the other sector identified as have particular growth potential.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said the inaugural meeting could not have come at a more opportune time.

“As the geopolitical outlook becomes more uncertain with the conflict in the Middle East and ongoing war in Ukraine, it is essential that we build a resilient domestic food and farming industry,” he said.

“We look forward to working with the Board to ensure profitability and productivity are at the heart of farming and growing businesses, as this is key to building a stable, homegrown sector that is resilient for the long term.”