The overall picture for UK farming appears gloomy, but awareness is now building that the sector cannot be allowed to die, said John Moverley, chief executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE), at a recent meeting of the Chartered Institute of marketing food and agriculture group.

Moverley used YouGov research statistics to illustrate the UK farmer’s share of the consumer’s shopping basket has dropped by 23 per cent since the late 1980s, while prices paid to producers have dropped by 33 per cent in real terms. At the same time, 52 per cent of consumers do not feel it is their responsibility to prop up the farming sector by buying its products. “A range of factors influence purchasing habits but there has been a serious disconnetion between the consumer’s passion for food and their passion for the food producer,” he said.

“In more recent years, there has emerged a type of consumer with a real interest in locally sourced food. This was firstly driven by high income groups seeing organic foods as somehow safer and purer and was followed by farmers markets providing fresh produce in local towns. It was a small step but it awakened interest and realisation that fresh food actually did taste better.”

Growing a market for local food “could and should be as important as the ‘Everyday low prices’ message promoted by major retailers”, said Moverley.

And the enterprising farmer who follows the trend towards local, premium-price food and moves away from commodity production has a bright future.

“It may have taken some time, but there is now real awareness that our UK agriculture is under threat because of economic pressures and, once lost, it will not be easy to rebuild. The government must provide the framework for a successful farming sector through balanced regulation and consumer education.”

Moverley added that there have been encouraging signs that returns to producers are beginning to turn a corner: “…we have moved a long way and undoubtedly there is opportunity. However, what we do in the next few years will be highly significant in the way the market does or does not develop and whether the current focus on fair returns across the food chain continues and remains a priority for all involved.

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