The Future Farming Consultation
Today, Defra launched a ten-week public consultation on Future Farming policy. The long-awaited consultation is a unique opportunity to produce a British agricultural policy for the first time in decades. This is a unique chance to transform our relationship with food, farming and the countryside for the better.
With the release of the Future Farmer consultation, Helen Browning, Soil Association Chief Executive, said:
“There is much to welcome in this paper’s ambition for high standards of food quality and farm animal welfare, for improving soil health, tackling climate change and protecting the environment. We will be responding to the consultation with evidence of the vital role organic farming can play in achieving this. It is particularly heartening to see the organic milk co-operative, OMSCo, highlighted as an example of how farmers can work effectively together. And we are encouraged to see Government interest in farmer-led research; putting farmers in the driving seat of research is something that we and others have long been supporting through Innovative Farmers.
“While little is said about food or human health, or crucial mechanisms such as public procurement, we are led to expect more of this in a separate ‘food plan’ in due course. We now look forward to seeing how the practicalities of achieving these ambitions are shaped by the consultation process – we will be working over the coming weeks with our farmers, growers and food businesses, as well as our members and supporters to feed in inspiring, practical ideas.”
Read our proposals for the future of UK farming outside the EU here.
Don't know why the Agriculture Bill is so important? Check out this blog.
While you’re here…
…we’ve got a small favour to ask. As a charity we rely on fundraising to do our vital work. We champion a world where people, farm animals and nature can thrive – and we’ve made huge steps forward working with farmers, growers and researchers to find pioneering and practical solutions to today’s farming challenges. But there’s so much more to be done.
You can help change the way we farm and eat for good. If everyone who visits our website and cares about the food they eat and how it’s been produced, makes a small contribution today, we can do more of the work that really matters.