FARMING AND FOOD – THE FUTURE
A Consultation Document
The Policy Commission on the Future of
Farming and Food has issued this consultation paper as part of its investigation
into the food chain and its future in England.
The Commission’s terms of reference,
which cover England only, are:
To advise the Government on how we
can create a sustainable, competitive and diverse farming and food sector
which contributes to a thriving and sustainable rural economy, advances
environmental, economic, health and animal welfare goals, and is consistent
with the Government’s aims for CAP reform, enlargement of the EU and
increased trade liberalisation.
It has been asked to report to the
Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs by December 31 2001.
The Commission would like to hear from anyone with an interest in the issues it
is tackling.
What is happening in farming and the
food industry in England today raises questions for all of us: as consumers; as
residents in or visitors to the countryside; as taxpayers; as those engaged in
the production and processing of food.
Even before the current outbreak of
Foot and Mouth, many of those involved with food production in this country were
saying that their industry was facing crisis. English farmers are finding it
hard to compete in an increasingly globalised marketplace. Despite very
substantial public subsidy to agriculture, farming incomes are at their lowest
for 30 years. At the same time there are major perceived problems of animal
health, food safety, and the nutritional quality of food; of environmental
degradation, and of continued decline in wildlife diversity in the countryside.
In trying to map a better vision for
the future the Commission needs views from the full range of stakeholders
involved with farming and food. The present situation demands we look again at
the fundamentals of farming and the food chain in this country.
The Commission would like stakeholders’
responses to the following questions:
- As citizens, consumers and taxpayers what should we
expect of the countryside, farming and the food sector?
- Against that background, what is good about farming
(as land manager and as food producer) and the food sector at present that
we should try to preserve, and what are the problems?
- What factors are driving these good and bad aspects
and how?
- What can be done to make things better:
- in the short-term?
- in the medium to long term?
The Commission hopes that everyone who
cares about their food and the farmed landscape in England will take the time to
respond. We are looking for inspirational ideas and examples to illustrate where
we should be heading.
To allow time for them to be properly
considered, the Commission would be grateful to receive all submissions by 26
October 2001 at the latest.
Copies of consultation responses will
be made available to third parties on request unless marked confidential by the
sender. If time permits the Commission intends to publish a summary of
consultation responses with its final report.
Contact details
Responses to the questions in this call for
views should be sent to the Commission by 26 October 2001.
Responses can by sent by post to:
Policy Commission on the Future of
Farming and Food
Room LG12
Admiralty Arch
The Mall
London SW1A 2WH
or e-mailed to:
farming@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
Further copies of this consultation document can be obtained from the Commission’s
website.
Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food
25 September 2001
