Agriculture and horticulture’s contribution to the UK economy has surged over the past five years, a new report shows.
The NFU published its report, Backing the Business of British Farming, on the first day of its annual conference in Birmingham this week. It revealed that farm production contributed £8.6 billion more to the UK economy between 2008 and 2012 than it did from 2003-2007 in gross value-added terms.
Food and drink is now the UK’s fourth-largest exporting sector, with exports in the first half of 2013 growing by 2.5 per cent to £6.12bn, compared to £5.97bn in the first half of 2012.
The NFU has called on the government to put food production at its heart, and also cited a YouGov consumer survey showing 88 per cent believe it is important the government should have a strategy to ensure a secure and affordable supply of British food.
“We as an industry produce the raw materials for the biggest manufacturing sector in the economy, so trying to get people to understand our contribution to the whole economy is absolutely vital,” said NFU president Peter Kendall. “We are creating jobs. If the government is looking for a sector to kick-start growth and rebalance the economy then they should start by looking at agriculture. I believe any long-term economic plan for growth in the UK must include a long-term and strategic food plan.”
However Defra minister George Eustice played down the need for a published strategy, claiming instead that the coalition should be judged on its actions and had done a huge amount to support the sector.
No comments yet