A fact-finding mission to the heart of the EU saw Yorkshire food producers given an insight into the mechanics of EU policy-making.

The farmers and food companies, sponsored by the Farexchange Programme's Travel to Learn initiative, travelled to Brussels to gain a better understanding of how decisions made in the EU impact on the food supply chain in this country.

The two-day visit to the EU's offices, for 24 farmers, was organised in conjunction with the National Farmers’ Union. A tour of a Wallonia farm in Belgium was also on the itinerary.

After meeting MEPs Linda McAvan and Diana Wallis, Whitby farmer Tom Cummins said: "I certainly came away with a better understanding of the amount of work that is involved in trying to formulate an industry position on issues as diverse as individual electronic identification of sheep to food labelling and supermarket contracts."

After their whistle-stop tour inside the hallowed halls of Europe's decision-makers, Cummins said the group was pleased to then spend its second day down at the farm, which was located just south of Brussels.

He said: "The farm we visited was a mixed livestock, dairy and arable enterprise and all around us was evidence of the effects of [EU] regulations - everything from a new 20,000 litre slurry holding pad under construction, to the establishment of compulsory green cover for 75 per cent of all bare overwintered land."

Farexchange is a food supply chain development programme funded by Yorkshire Forward and led by the English Farming and Food Partnerships, which aims to help Yorkshire and Humber companies improve competitiveness and efficiency through collaborative supply chains from farm to fork.

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