Britain’s farmers face their biggest challenge for more than 50 years, in meeting rapidly growing demand for both food and non-food uses of land, and in mitigating climate change.
But by using innovation and smart technology, they can rise to the challenge, and in ways that enhance the countryside and improve the environment.
That was the message from NFU president Peter Kendall when he spoke in a debate on “Delivering Green Growth” at the Conservative Party Conference in Bournemouth today (October 2).
Kendall said that a combination of a rapidly increasing worldwide demand for food and fuel, and the impact of climate change on the ability of the world’s farmers to meet the demand meant that “not since the second world have our land, our farming and our farmers been so important as a resource”.
He gave a number of examples of how farmers or farming co-operatives and companies are using smart technology to develop new uses both for farm crops and for farm wastes. These included biodegradable supermarket bags made from rape oil extract, the production of biobutanol from sugar beet and using hemp to make car panels and building blocks.
However, the farmer’s traditional role of producing fresh, wholesome food was also growing in importance, given increasing public concern over the “food miles” involved in importing produce from around the world.
Kendall said that farmers’ recent record on the environment - £400 million a year spent on countryside management; more than 4m hectares of land in environment schemes - demonstrated that they could meet whatever demands were made of them, and still protect the countryside.
He summarised the challenge as follows: “To meet new demands for non-food uses of land; to meet the growing demand for really high-quality local food; to ensure that we can produce the mainstream commodities that the country needs - and all in ways that enhance the countryside, improve the environment and mitigate climate change.
“But with a sensible regulatory regime, we can do it. We have a great climate for growing grass and crops, great soils that allow a wide range of different crops to be grown, and an industry built around innovative farmers who are raring to go.
“This is an industry that is up for the challenge.”
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