Bullet point outline for speech by The Rt Hon Jeff Rooker at the English Food and Farming Partnerships AGM, Stationers' Hall, London - 31 October 2006
Introduction
- Glad to be invited to speak here today.
- Lack of collaboration in this industry is a problem
- Previous roles in government have enabled comparison
Farming general
- Farming impacts on the environment and we ask farmers to protect it for us
- Farming is important not just for the countryside but for the whole country
- Why farmers matter:
- Produce safe, high quality food.
- Guardians of the countryside
- On the front line
- Part of our national identity
- Contributors to the rural economy
- Farming is a highly professional business.
- But farming is also an extremely complex one – farmers need to comply with national and European rules, barriers are in the way
- Farmers need to negotiate with often powerful buyers, understand new business opportunities.
- Presents a particular challenge for small businesses.
- Need to diversify.
- Farming is highly complex, has changed dramatically and it is hard to explain this to the public
Farming and the food chain
- Farming does not exist in isolation – integral part of the food chain.
- But the food chain is not static – it is constantly changing.
- I will be meeting all the Regional Development Agencies before the end of the year
Non food crops
- Of course, farmers don’t only produce food.
- Potential for non-food crops is enormous
- Land space is an issue but government has a responsibility to facilitate market establishment
- Non food crops can form the basis of renewable energy and fuels, and the feedstock for an increasing range of industrial materials.
- These materials can make a positive contribution to the Government’s sustainable development agenda and deliver benefits for the rural economy, the environment, scientific innovation and industrial competitiveness.
- Government is supporting the embryo industry with a package of measures to plant energy crops, develop supply lines and create end-use markets.
- Also seeking to create the environment in which the industry can flourish:
- In November 2004 the Government published its Strategy for Non-Food Crops and Uses.
- In the coming year we intend to publish a UK Biomass Strategy.
- By April 2007 we will carry out an analysis of potential support mechanisms for renewable heat.
- From 2008 we will introduce a Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to require 5% of road fuels to come from renewable sources by 2010.
- The more that can be grown here the better
- Believe that non-food crops present opportunities both for UK farmers and UK industry. But to reap the full benefits farmers and industry will need to work together.
One Planet Farming
- Leads neatly to one planet farming and One Planet Living, the strapline of WWF which we use.
- Farming matters to the environment. It is a major force to help us reach wider One Planet Living
- Currently we are using about three planets
- Net environment cost of agriculture is around £400m a year.
- Is responsible for 7% of this country’s greenhouse gases, notably nitrous oxide and methane.
- We need one planet farming that minimises the impact of food production and consumption on the environment. And maximises its contribution to the renewal of the natural environment.
Government goals for farming
- Economic: To support farmers in building a profitable, innovative and competitive industry that meets the needs of consumers;
- More likely to achieve this if they cooperate
- Environmental: To see farming fulfil its unique role in the countryside by making a net positive contribution to the environment, while reducing the environmental footprint of our food consumption.
- Social: To see farming contribute to the long-term sustainability of rural communities.
- Farming is a key aspect of rural communities . Agri-food is huge.
- Competition is an issue but collaboration is needed
Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy (SFFS)
- The Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy continues to be the over-riding framework for delivering these goals.
- At its heart is a drive to make farmers more market focused, while managing their businesses in more environmentally and socially responsible ways.
SFFS priorities for the food chain
- The SFFS emphasised the importance of:
- reconnecting all elements of the food chain and in particular farmers with their markets; and,
- strengthening links between the various elements of the chain through co-operation and working together.
Benefits of collaboration
- Believe that greater collaboration can promote more competitive supply chains.
- Horizontal collaboration between producers can provide economies of scale, spread risk, and facilitate efficient investment.
- Vertical collaboration brings producers closer to their markets, enabling them to respond more effectively to consumer demand.
- Retailers are important – done wonders for traceability. Restored confidence of consumers
- Farmers need a bigger share of the chain
Which is where EFFP comes in …
- EFFP is a key part of the SFFS, and one of its early successes.
- Would like to offer more money at this time, but unfortunately cannot
Where next?
- Believe that we can learn from Farmer Controlled Businesses (FCBs) abroad to give us some clear examples of how we can start to make this happen. I am delighted therefore that this is the main focus of today’s conference and welcome the speakers here today from Holland, New Zealand and the US.
- The EU does make things different for us
- FCBs abroad are often professionally run, world-class businesses and it is essential that British FCBs operate in a similar manner. EFFP are helping them to do so.
- Aware that to build our FCB sector from its current base will take a lot of investment.
- Understand that EFFP and several individual FCBs are looking at new innovative ways to tackle this, and I welcome this.
Future for EFFP
- I was very impressed with their plans, and I was sorry that we were unable, this year, to find additional funds to help EFFP put them into practice.
- But we are looking again at the plans in the context of the review of food chain bodies announced in the SFFS Forward Look.
- Aim is to work with EFFP and other bodies to review what needs to be done to achieve the SFFS priorities over the next three years.
Importance of EFFP
- It is a measure of the importance that we attach to EFFP that, despite the very tough financial position that Defra has been facing this year, their grant has not been reduced. Others have not been so lucky.
Summary
- Government believes that farming and the food industry has a lot to contribute to a healthy economy, environment and society.
- It also believes that of collaboration and co-operation has a vital role to play in achieving these aims.
- EFFP is well placed to do this, and it continues to have our support.
- Not all England is the same and we need to be aware of this.
- Young people I met at Harper Adams are really enthusiastic about farming – modern approach with modern business plans.
- Real future is there but this future is better with collaboration.
- Wish you a successful and productive conference.
Page published: 1 November 2006