Defra secretary of state Liz Truss has spelt out her case for why Britain should remain in the EU.
Speaking at the NFU Conference in Birmingham, Truss pointed out that food and farming is Britain's largest manufacturing industry, employing 3.8 million people. Some 60 per cent of food and farming exports are to the EU, bringing in £11 billion.
'I believe that by voting to remain we can work within a reformed EU to reduce bureaucracy and secure further reform while still enjoying the significant benefits of the single market, which gives us access to 500 million consumers,' she said.
'We are able to export our high-quality products freely without the trade barriers we deal with elsewhere and with a say in the rules.'
However, Truss did say there were areas where change in Brussels needs to take place. Describing the current Common Agricultural Policy as 'the most complicated ever', she said she wanted to see simplification in ecological focus areas, cross-compliance and inspections and far better use of technology.
She also called for the controversial three-crop rule to be abolished, having heard that it adds as much as 10 per cent to farmers' costs in certain areas, while doing virtually nothing for the environment.
'At a time of severe price volatility and global market uncertainty, I believe it would be wrong to take a leap into the dark,' she added. 'The years of complication and risk caused by negotiating withdrawal would be a distraction from our efforts to build a world-leading food and farming industry that brings jobs and growth to Britain.'
Truss argued that the new settlement secured by Prime Minister David Cameron offered 'the best of both worlds' and Britain would be 'stronger, safer and better off' in a reformed Europe.
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