NFU president Tom Bradshaw had called on the Government to do more to create a resilient food industry
A resilient food system is key to tackling food inflation, bolstering national security and driving growth, NFU president Tom Bradshaw is set to tell delegates at this year's annual conference, which gets underway today (February 24).
Geopolitics
In his opening address, Mr Bradshaw will highlight how, in a time of geopolitical uncertainty, a resilient food system is a cornerstone of national security which should be backed up by a long-term plan for farming and food production.
Drawing on findings from the NFU's farmer confidence survey, he will also emphasise that profitability is the key to 鈥榞rowth, resilience and curbing food inflation'.
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Addressing more than 1,000 NFU members, politicians and key industry stakeholders Mr Bradshaw will say: "Investment in food production is critical to the nation's future. Everyone - young or old, rural, or urban - needs a resilient food system. Resilience means the ability to anticipate shocks, withstand the impact and recover stronger than before.
Profitability
"Recently the Defra Secretary of State said that farm profitability was vital to enable UK agriculture to grow. I couldn't agree more.听 Profit is not a dirty word. Profitability is the first step towards true sustainability. That is the key to growth, resilience, and curbing food inflation.
"When government is joined up, it makes a real difference. Just look at planning. Ambitious proposals have been brought forward to make it easier for farmers to secure approvals for new agricultural buildings. This is exactly the sort of intent we need to see in other areas such as2 delivering on its manifesto pledge for half of all food purchased across the public sector to be locally sourced."
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He is expected to point to rising energy costs, and to appeal to the Government to recognise the needs of the farming industry alongside those of steel and cement.
Water and safeguarding it is a resource for food production is also high on Mr Bradshaw's list of asks.
A main consideration too is the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) which is due to return in some form in June. Details of the new iteration - for example fund size, payment options, and eligibility criteria - have yet to be revealed.
Clarity and continuity
Ahead of the keynote political address by the Secretary of State for Defra Emma Reynolds, Mr Bradshaw will ask for greater clarity and continuity.
"Farmers are the original environmentalists, but they cannot have the goalposts constantly moving if they are to keep delivering for the environment and be profitable, resilient businesses," he will say.
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"If we get this right, Britain's farmers will invest in the on-farm infrastructure needed to deliver a resilient food system for 70 million consumers. That investment will boost food production and drive domestic growth at a local, rural level. By growing more here it keeps the processing capacity here, keeps the technology here, keeps the research and development here.
He is set to conclude with a call for action to combat further contraction of the farming industry asking the Government to heed the comments of others such as the National Preparedness Commission which has warned we cannot always rely on others to feed us.
National security
"Building farming's resilience is crucial, because if we don't, our ability to produce food here, and therefore our food security, our national security, and our economic growth, will be under threat.
"How we get there is a clear government ambition for homegrown food production, just as we have for other sectors. We need a food strategy that sets clear ambitions, sector by sector and delivery of the Food and Farming Board, set out in Baroness Batters profitability review.
"Britain should, and can be, one of the best places on earth to produce food. For the sake of our economy, for our planet and for our national security, we must not take that advantage for granted."
