Back our region’s farmers with more British food in schools and hospitals

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With the national spotlight set to shine on the British farming industry I would like to highlight why our public authorities should lead from the front in championing our nation’s farmers, writes farmer and NFU regional chair Jane Bassett.

The NFU’s annual Back British Farming Day, on September 11th will see people across the country showing their support for our farmers and the food we produce.

Farmers here in Derbyshire, the rest of the region and across the country are continuing to face some major challenges.

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They include crops being devastated by frequent floods, ongoing issues with rural crime, sharp rises in energy costs, being undercut by trade deals which have allowed in food produced to standards that would be illegal in this country, a lack of supply chain fairness and, as we are sadly seeing right now, the emergence of the bluetongue virus.

Jane Bassett on farmJane Bassett on farm
Jane Bassett on farm

Some of these issues have led to farmers’ confidence to be at an all-time low, as was revealed by an NFU survey, published in May this year. But British farmers are resilient and we are working with the NFU to find solutions.

Public authorities can play a significant role in supporting these efforts by committing to sourcing more British food for organisations such as schools, hospitals, prisons, councils and the military.

One of the NFU’s key pre-general election manifesto asks of the new government was for a commitment to source at least 50% of food into the public sector from British farms.

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British farmers have a huge amount of public support - again this year farmers were rated as the second most highly regarded profession by the British public, behind only nurses.

Call for more British food in schools and hospitalsCall for more British food in schools and hospitals
Call for more British food in schools and hospitals

So, it is right for public authorities to use public money to support an industry the public values very highly.

What’s more, I believe it is in both the public and the producers’ interests that our public sector utilises our world-leading British food and farming industry to deliver safe, traceable, affordable, nutritious food.

The government would be providing much-needed support for British farmers and growers at a time when business certainty and confidence are at an all-time low while, at the same time, boosting the economy, helping the environment and promoting animal welfare.

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Farming contributes significantly to the economy, to jobs and also help underpin the wider tourism industry and sourcing food locally greatly helps the environment by reducing food miles.

Supporting British farmers also means supporting animal welfare, as farmers here adhere to world-leading standards in this regard.

More support will also enable British farmers to continue their great work helping wildlife and protecting the countryside.

There are already many good examples of public authorities working with British farmers and the NFU is doing some good work, here and across the country, to engage with many other local authorities to make our case. Our country needs a successful British farming industry and a long-term commitment to our farmers from the government and local councils will help to achieve that.

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Farmers are extremely grateful for the continued support we get from the British public.

As the country unites for Back British Farming Day on Wednesday, I hope our decision makers hear that loud and clear.

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