Britain is to appoint a food ambassador in the next few months to help increase exports to high growth markets like China, Russia and India as part of a new Farming, Food and Drink Exports Action Plan set out by Agriculture Minister Jim Paice.
Mr Paice argues world population growth and demand for western products presents huge opportunities for British producers to tap into emerging markets and play a pivotal role in driving the economic recovery.
Despite a 12 per cent increase in UK food exports in 2010 to £16.1 billion, the UK still exports more to Belgium than to Brazil, Russia, India, China and Mexico combined.
As a priority the Exports Action Plan plans to provide high-level ministerial and ambassadorial support to promote British produce abroad.
It will also aim to provide more support to agri-food companies showcasing products at international trade shows and during trade missions.
Paice said: “British food is already known the world over for its quality, and with surging world population growth and demand for western products, there are huge opportunities for our producers to tap into emerging markets.
“I’m convinced the sector can become an engine for growth for our economic recovery. It’s crucial we get the right support to business at home as well as championing British products abroad.”
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) has welcomed the efforts to boost exports.
AHDB chief executive, Tom Taylor, said: “Driving exports has been something the industry has placed great emphasis on for some time, so we welcome this positive response and the Government’s commitment to addressing the issue at the highest level.
“Faced with the challenges of less support through the CAP in the future, UK agriculture needs all the tools in the box to secure its competitiveness. Where export markets offer potentially better returns for products that have low demand in the UK, we should be taking full advantage of them.”
“Access to export markets and building relationships provides opportunities for improved returns and better sustainability for the industry. For example, with seed potatoes, last season we broke the 100,000 tonne annual export milestone for the first time.”
You can read the Exports Action Plan in full here: http://www.defra.gov.uk/food-farm/food/exports/
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