British agriculture must recognise and contribute a key role in dealing with climate change to aid food supplies, according to NFU President Peter Kendall.

With growing world population, volatile food markets and a changing climate, a committee set up by DEFRA is to conduct an inquiry into securing food supplies for the next 40 years, with a focus on the role that British agriculture can play in addressing domestic and international food needs.

“We have seen numerous reports into the challenges we face in feeding a growing population while mitigating our impact on the environment. But the time has come for government to look at the role British agriculture has to play in responding to domestic and world food needs, an aspect that has been hitherto largely overlooked,” said Kendall.

“While public attention is rightly focused on the economy, we must remember that the challenges faced by the UK, and the rest of the world, in securing food supplies in the future are very real. It would be morally and economically wrong to allow British agriculture to shrink, as some people suggest.

“We must champion British farmers and growers to enable them to increase production in response to growing market demand but this requires a shift in government policy, to one where productive agriculture and the environment are placed side by side in DEFRA’s policy-making,” he said.

The NFU believes there are current weaknesses within the supply chain which impact on its ability to deliver, including abuse of power by major grocery retailers, under-investment in primary research, issues with labour availability and a growing skills gap.

“I would echo calls I made more than a year ago for an ‘early warning system’ to monitor changes in agricultural production and undertake systematic investigation when production falls in a given sector," said Kendall.

“While I don’t believe that the answer to today’s questions will be found in championing self-sufficiency, protectionism or market-distorting subsidy, I do believe that, despite the volatility that lies ahead in food markets, the market will remain the cornerstone of our success and I look forward to working with the committee to achieve secure food supplies for 2050 and beyond.”