Outspoken environment journalist George Monbiot has slammed the NFU for being “in bed with the supermarkets” and failing to represent smaller farmers.
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference today (8 January), Monbiot also attacked the farmer’s union for being “indistinguishable from Defra” and said many small-scale farmers were disillusioned with the organisation.
The news comes as at the end of last year organics grower Guy Watson, of Riverford Organic, said he feels 'alienated' by the NFU’s “self-righteous lobbying for the short term interests of a small number of large-scale farmers”.
Monbiot also said that current CAP system could not be justified, and primarily benefits large landowners who have inherited family farms.
NFU president Meurig Raymond responded during the question and answer session, and expressed his “pride” for NFU members and farmers. He said that CAP payments allow farmers to produce affordable food for the public, and urged Monbiot to accept that CAP benefits consumers as well as farmers.
NFU deputy president Minette Batters also hit back at Monbiot during the conference and said she was “speechless” at his criticism of “her wonderful organisation”, the Farmers Guardian reported.
She went on to stress the positive work the NFU does on behalf of farmers and the wider public.
The lively debate was welcomed by delegates at the Oxford Farming Conference, many of whom took to Twitter to praise the NFU’s responses to Monbiot’s challenges.
Monbiot had begun his talk by thanking delegates for “leaving their shotguns at the door”.
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