The NFU has launched a major new consumer campaign to encourage Brits to buy UK-produced food and support British farming.
Farming Delivers will highlight six key areas where British farmers play “a unique and important role”: producing food; looking after the environment; kick-starting economic growth; producing cleaner energy; providing “exciting new careers”; and “world-class” animal welfare standards.
The NFU is launching the campaign at a special event in London and will present a report on the contribution of agriculture to the British economy to MPs in Westminster later today.
The NFU’s new campaign will include a new website, social media drives and activities at regional agricultural and county shows. Alongside the new report being presented to MPs, a leaflet for consumers and a compendium of farming statistics will be produced.
NFU president Peter Kendall said British farming had seen a “tremendous turnaround” in public attitudes over the past 10 years and re-established the case for the UK’s farming industry.
“No-one now seriously doubts the need for this country to have an efficient, productive, environmentally-conscious British farming sector, or the value that it, and we as farmers and growers, can deliver on all fronts,” he said.
Kendall said farmers were not looking for “special treatment” from policy makers but wanted to use their new campaign to showcase “what farming delivers for Britain”.
“We want to continue building on today’s good news story by working with government to replace, what can be, piecemeal and contradictory approaches to food and farming, to ensure there are policies in place that sees the UK becoming more self-sufficient, protecting its own food supply and building on today’s economic success story for the future prosperity and well-being of this country.”
He also called on consumers to bear in mind the UK’s self-sufficiency in food had fallen by 15% in the past 20 years and stressed everyone “can do their bit” by eating more seasonally and buying local and British food.
“So, our message is simple; ask for British food,” he said. “Make it British, make it local and make it happen.”
The campaign is being supported by the Food & Drink Federation, whose director, Melanie Leech, said British farmers’ responsiveness and resilience despite the economic downturn meant businesses in the food supply chain were “well placed to play a key part in the UK’s economic recovery”.
“We support this drive by the NFU to maximise the role our farmers can play in being more productive whilst being effective stewards of our natural resources,” she added.
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