New PM Andy Burnham urged to prioritise food security

New prime minister Andy Burnham’s promises to stabilise and rekindle the UK economy must include food and farming, with a particular emphasis on food security, farm leaders have insisted.

Entering 10 Downing Street on Monday 20 July, Mr Burnham admitted that previous Labour and Conservative administrations had “not been good enough” at delivering for the economy.

See also: FW Podcast – what to expect from Andy Burnham

He promised a new political and economic model, with an immediate emphasis on providing people with “breathing space” to help deal with the cost-of-living crisis.

There is, as yet, no information on the make-up of his new cabinet or whether there might be any ministerial changes at Defra.

Timed to coincide with his appointment as prime minister, the NFU has written to Mr Burnham, reminding him of the essential role farmers and growers play in feeding the nation.

‘Bedrock’

NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “British farmers and growers are the bedrock of the nation’s food security, putting food on the plates of 28m households every day.

“Yet while governments rightly treat defence and energy security as national priorities, food security has too often been overlooked.”

Mr Bradshaw said the new prime minister should deliver on Labour’s manifesto pledge that “food security is national security” and turn it into meaningful action.

The recent five-point resilience plan put together by the NFU, British Retail Consortium, Food and Drink Federation and UK Hospitality could provide the necessary blueprint.

Mr Bradshaw also urged immediate action on overly restrictive planning regulations and devising regulation to drive innovation and growth.

Tenant farmers

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) also sees the arrival of the new prime minister as a chance for a reset, urging Mr Burnham to make tenant farmers a central part of the government programme for food and farming.

TFA chief executive Geroge Dunn identified four immediate priorities: encouraging longer-term tenancies; ensuring all future support schemes are tenant-proofed; introducing fair compensation for tenant farmers displaced by solar and infrastructure developments; and setting a timetable for tenancy reform.

“Tenant farmers cannot wait the best part of a decade for change while short tenancies continue, land is removed from agriculture and compensation gaps remain unfilled,” he said.

Organics

Meanwhile, the Soil Association has reminded Mr Burnham of the part organic farming can play in improving human diets and limiting environmental damage.

“Backing organic farming with the promised organic action plan for England will boost domestic production to meet consumer demand so we can stop offshoring the economic and environmental benefits,” said policy director Brendan Costelloe.

He urged greater support for organics through the Sustainable Farming Incentive, and tougher regulation on large agri-food businesses “commensurate with the impact they have on the environment and public health”.