The Government is failing to support sustainable farming, which undermines the UK’s food security, researchers have said.
Analysis from the think tank Institute for Public Policy Research has found that droughts, rising temperatures and increasing numbers of pests and disease – all features of climate change – are plaguing UK food producers.
Post-Brexit trade deals are undermining UK farmers and the country’s climate goals while offshoring the UK’s carbon footprint, they added, while supermarkets are dominating the market, buying at discount and selling at high volume, leaving producers with too little of the final price paid by the consumer.
“The evidence is crystal clear: protecting our planet, boosting farmers’ livelihoods and food security go hand in hand.As part of their investigation, the researchers spoke with farmers from three counties – Cumbria, Kent and Somerset – to get a picture of the challenges and opportunities they face. The new system is designed to reward farmers for switching to more nature-friendly practices such as maintaining hedgerows, but the IPPR said the schemes are failing to win the confidence of farmers with concerns that public money is not being spent effectively enough.
Trade deals should also ensure that imported food aligns with UK standards on environment, welfare and safety as well as workers’ rights. “It’s undermining our ability to produce food domestically, making farmers’ lives harder, and entrenching a food system that is wasteful, bad for our health, and damaging to the environment.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
London mayor urges government to re-join EU research projectThe government say constructive talks are ongoing to re-join Horizon Europe - an EU research and innovation programme.
Read more »
London mayor urges government to re-join EU research projectScientists say being outside the £85b scheme is highly damaging to UK science and innovation
Read more »
Scottish Government kicking the can down the road' on transport fares reviewThe number of Scots using public transport plummeted during the coronavirus pandemic with some services axed as a result.
Read more »
Closer EU relations should be top priority for Labour government, says Sir Tony BlairThe former Labour prime minister, Tony Blair, said Sir Keir Starmer should make efforts to heal post-Brexit relations with the EU as soon as possible if he is elected to No 10 poppyeh reports
Read more »
Government issues urgent Measles warning amid fears over immunityAccording to UKHSA modelling, individuals aged between 19 and 25 are particularly vulnerable due to their low vaccination rates.
Read more »
Fuel retailers urged to back government price sharing schemeThe energy secretary is asking supermarkets and petrol stations to publish prices to aid competition.
Read more »