The latest set of recommendations for making the most of the current, 'once in a generation' opportunity to re-shape Britain's food supply comes from the right-leaning thinktank Policy Exchange.
Its new report, Farming Tomorrow, argues that the Common Agricultural Policy has, 'at great expense', reduced agricultural productivity by lessening competition and supporting 'inefficient farmers', while at the same time increasing costs for consumers. Outside the EU, therefore, the UK will be free to abolish tariffs on food products, which will unlock new trade deals, help developing countries and deliver cheaper food for consumers. 'We can also reform the agricultural subsidies regime so that we reward farmers who deliver public goods like biodiversity and flood prevention, rather than rewarding wealthy landowners', the report says.
Brexit has created many odd bedfellows, and while Sustain members and supporters will find much to disagree with in this report, it nevertheless makes a useful contribution to the debate about how food policy might be improved once Britain has left the EU. Read it here.
Professor Erik Millstone, joint author of A Food Brexit: Time to get real responded to the Policy Exchange report: "Environmental protection is undoubtedly a public good, but so too are stable supplies and food prices. The policies recommended by the authors of the Policy Exchange report constitute a recipe for undermining food security in the UK, and are consequently ill-informed and unacceptable.”
Read his full response in a Farming Online article.
Sustain is campaigning for a Better Food Britain post-Brexit. Find out more and support us here.
Published Monday 7 August 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
