A recent report shows that 64% of farmers don’t feel valued by the general public [1] meaning the need for support of our farmers is more important than ever – particularly now, when the agricultural industry is facing continued challenges.
Agriculture is the practice of farming, including the cultivation of soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool and other products. The value of the agricultural industry to our society is extensive; British farmers provide a secure food system that feeds the nation and delivers a wide range of environmental and rural community benefits which go well beyond the farm gates.
In 2021, agriculture in the UK employed half a million people, managed 71% of the UK’s land [2] and provided half of the food consumed in the UK, the latter of which has been heightened in recent years with disrupted supply chains due to Coronavirus, Brexit and ongoing material and labour shortages.
Economic Contribution
The UK’s largest manufacturing sector – food and drink, is reliant on UK produce and provides 64%[3] of food eaten in the UK, contributing over £120 billion[4] to the country’s economy. Without farming, this sector could be lost, along with its contribution to our economy.
UK food and drink businesses are now selling their products to 217 markets [5]; this includes £565 million of cheese, £448 million of beef and £490 million in breakfast cereals [6]. All these products are reliant on farming of arable crops and livestock. The UK also exports produce that contributes further grossly to the economy; for example, £603 million worth of beer [7] is exported annually, of which the hops and grains required are grown in the UK.
Given the contributions the farming sector makes to our economy, and its value in terms of land management and food production, it is vital that we, as a society, continue to support British Farming.
The UK government has introduced a new framework that provides additional support to farmers and looks to invest in the future trade and export deals. This includes a package that contains a number of commitments designed to protect food standards in the UK and alleviate the fear, which is new and future trade agreements. The package also includes a £2 million increase in investment to ensure the UK are present at international trade shows, as well as the appointment of more experts in the global agricultural food market, and an assigned £1 million for dairy exporters alone [8].
Land Management
In 2022, the utilised agricultural area was 8.9 million hectares, which accounts for 69% of the total area of England; 55% of that being used for crop growth [9]. This means it is essential to manage the use and development of land resources such as water, oil and forestry, through environmental land management.
The UK government has many schemes in place to encourage farmers to deliver significant and important outcomes for the climate and environment, including creating and restoring wildlife-rich habitats, improving water quality by reducing the usage of nitrogen and phosphorus in agricultural activities, implementing nature-based flood management, creating new woodlands and treescapes and reducing carbon emissions in ways such as recycling waste materials and improving application accuracy of nitrogen fertiliser.
Through governance and conservation practices, farmers can help protect water sources, store carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as directly impact the quality of crop production by building rich, fertile soils that produce robust crops resilient to extreme weather events.
How can you help?
Whilst farmers can help to reduce their own environmental impact and look to offset some of the impact caused by others, they cannot be responsible for it all. Support of farmers from the public can make the investment into more energy efficient machinery and strategies, such as planting trees, more financially viable.
There are a lot of very easy ways you can support British farming; the easiest way is to buy British food. By recognising the following labels, you can be sure you are buying true British food.
- The Red Tractor logo guarantees that the food and drink product is traceable, safe and farmed with care. When combined with the British flag, you can be sure that produce can be traced back to British farms.
- The British Lion is the UK’s most successful food safety mark and assures you that the produce has been produced under the highest standards of food safety and in Britain.
Eating seasonally is also a great way to enjoy fresh, quality produce and help you back British farming without missing out. A guide can be found here to learn about when British fruit and veg is in season and available to buy; it also has recipe ideas to help you make the most of the produce. Modern growing and harvesting technology and good storage conditions has meant that some British produce is now available all year round, like potatoes, carrots, and apples.
Supporting small-scale independent farmers and shops can also help maintain healthy competition, quality and diversity, all of which can benefit our nation’s farmers. By supporting large corporations, such as the supermarket chains, may mean you are adding to the pressures applied to UK farmers by them, such as the thin margins for primary producers (the farmer) and the imbalance of cost inflation in which the cost of produce has gone up yet the farmgate returns have decreased over the same fiver-year period [10]. Some supermarket chains and their suppliers have initiatives and contracts in place that have made some headway into treating farmers more fairly, such as… We are also putting ourselves at risks of increased prices without alternative options; should the smaller businesses have to close, it’s easier for the larger organisations to set prices and increase demands on our farmers.
UK farmers are important to ensuring a sustainable future for many reasons; most significantly, they adapt to the ever-growing pressure to produce crops that feed, fuel and clothe a rapidly growing population. By understanding the different food labels, buying local or British produce, and eating seasonably, we can support them to secure a sustainable and fresh future. Find out more about how you can get behind British Farming here.
[1] https://m2f.hillsgreen.co.uk/
[3] https://www.countrysideonline.co.uk/articles/contributing-to-the-economy/
[4] https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/9750/pdf/#:~:text=The%20UK%20food%20chain%20as,every%20constituency%20of%20the%20UK.
[5] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/food-and-drink-export-sales-soar-in-brexit-boost
[6] https://www.statista.com/statistics/415651/leading-food-and-drink-exports-united-kingdom-uk/
[7] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/food-and-drink-export-sales-soar-in-brexit-boost
[8] https://www.fwi.co.uk/news/farm-policy/rishi-sunak-unveils-new-support-package-for-british-farming
[9] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/agricultural-land-use-in-england/agricultural-land-use-in-england-at-1-june-2022#:~:text=The%20utilised%20agricultural%20area%20(UAA,4.9%20million%20hectares%20in%202022.
[10] https://www.fwi.co.uk/business/markets-and-trends/farmer-frustration-at-low-returns-from-supermarkets
