Defra Publishes First UK Food Strategy for 60 Years
by Taunton Office
February 02, 2010
In his speech to the Oxford Farming Conference on 5 January 2010, Defra minister Hilary Benn announced the publication of the Defra report “Food 2030: how we get there” which he billed as the first UK food strategy policy since the end of the Second World War.
Mark Sanders of leading agents Carver Knowles, who advises Defra as a member of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group which will shortly be publishing guidance on the new Uplands Entry Level Stewardship Scheme, says, “For the first time since the aftermath of World War II, this document puts food security right at the heart of Government policy and affords it the same level of importance as energy security.” Sanders says that this represents a major and a very welcome shift in Government thinking after too many years of food production being seen as more of a problem than a priority.
Both Hilary Benn’s speech and the Defra publication talk about developing a policy framework that encourages the farming industry to produce more food in an economically and environmentally sustainable way. In terms of specific measures to help farmers, Sanders says that the report is short on detail but does indicate that the current system of providing subsidised advice and grant aid to support investment in energy saving or renewable technology will continue.
One detailed measure that Hilary Benn did announce was the introduction of interest free loans for farmers, specifically to invest in energy saving equipment such as new grain driers or milk cooling systems. “The existing loan scheme currently operated by the Carbon Trust is being extended to apply to agriculture”, says Sanders. “Interest free loans will be available for a period of four years and will provide funding of between £3,000 and £20,000 linked to the amount of carbon saved”. Sanders warns that the loan scheme is limited and will operate on a first come first served basis.
“Application forms have not yet been amended to apply to agricultural investments and the scheme will not be open to farmers until 1 February 2010. However, farmers who want to apply should get hold of the existing scheme literature so they are ready to submit applications as soon as possible after 1 February,” adds Sanders.