Brexit: 80 organisations call for food and farming support

More than 80 organisations have signed a letter to the government to stress the implications of Brexit on the food and farming industry.

They have called on the government to adopt common-sense food, farming and fishing policies that are good for jobs, health and the environment, when it plans for the UK’s exit from the EU.

The letter, co-signed by food, farming, fair trade, poverty, animal welfare, wildlife, health and environmental organisations, also argued that good food, farming and fishing policies must be central to any post EU Referendum strategy for the UK.

It was addressed to new Prime Minister Teresa May, and David Davis, secretary of state for Exiting the European Union.

The concerns have been raised as many of the UK’s food and farming policies and subsidies are defined by the EU.

Greenhouse gas emissions​

The 80 organisations pointed out that better food, farming and trade policies could help to cut greenhouse gas emissions from farming and food industries by 80% by 2050.

They also said that the government should promote healthier diets to combat heart disease, cancers, diabetes, and obesity.

It urged the government to consider prioritising ethical and sustainable production methods, improved animal welfare, more farmland and marine wildlife, a healthy future for bees and other pollinators. It also called for a safe and traceable food supply. 

Kath Dalmeny, head of Sustain, an alliance of food and farming organisations, which coordinated the letter, said: “The British public has given no mandate for a reduction in food and farming standards, a weakening of protection for nature, nor a reversal of the UK’s commitment to lifting millions of the poorest people in the world out of poverty through trade.​

“We are seriously concerned that such vital considerations may be over-run by a drive for new trade deals at any cost.”​

Stick to European standards​

Meanwhile, Stanley Johnson, co-chairman of Environmentalists for Europe, said that the UK needs to stick to the European standards.

“We need to find ways of ensuring that, in the future, we are still able to play a leadership role in European and international food, farming, fishing and environmental negotiations,"​ he also said.

Professor Tim Lang, from the Centre for Food Policy at City University London, said:  “How will we manage for fruit and veg pickers if we can no longer rely on the 65% of our farm workers that come from other EU countries?​

“If we want a home-grown supply of fresh, healthy and sustainable food, then farm incomes must improve, including fair terms of trade for farmers, and better pay and conditions for farm workers, as well as some level of continued allowance for migrant and seasonal workers.”​

Ruth Westcott, who coordinates the national Sustainable Fish Cities campaign, a collaboration of the UK’s leading marine conservation and sustainable fish organisations, said: “We can take back control of our seas to some extent.​

“But it is vitally important that life outside the EU does not lead to a fishing free-for-all.​

“Fish swim across national boundaries, and precious stocks that we share across the EU are still under threat from over-fishing.”​