Public sector food should come from UK farms, says National Farmers Union

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has said that food procured for the UK public sector should be obtained from domestic sources wherever possible.

The proposal comes as farmers in the UK fear they will lose the £3bn annual taxpayer subsidy they currently receive under EU regulations, and may face increased competition from Europe.

The NFU is submitting proposals that suggest the NHS, schools, government and other public services should be catered with ‘British assured ingredients’, except for non-UK grown food products.

According to the organisation, the proposal could provide national farmers with tens of billions of pounds per year and secure millions of jobs. It would also create a guaranteed market amid uncertainty brought on by Brexit.

Earlier proposals have been rejected by the UK Government as EU rules do not allow member states to favour their own products. France recently bypassed the regulations and announced plans to make the procurement of locally sourced organic food an obligation for its public sector.

NFU president Minette Batters said: “I want British farmers and growers to remain the number one supplier of choice to the UK market, and I want British people to be able to enjoy more sustainable, quality, affordable British food at a range of prices that suit all incomes.

“A future farm policy could uplift British farming’s ability to produce food for the nation… and enhance our reputation for high-welfare food which delivers for the environment.”

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced under its Health and Harmony project that it is consulting with farmers, food manufacturers, landowners and environmental groups to address challenges in the farming sector after the UK withdrawal from the European Union.

Environment secretary Michael Gove said he wants taxpayer support for farming to be conditional on farmers providing ‘public goods’, such as wildlife protection and countryside maintenance. The NFU said in response that farmers could provide water storage and flood prevention services through better land management.

The NFU also urged the government to be flexible during the transitionary period of the UK withdrawal from the EU, calling for easier ways for seasonal migrant workers to be employed in the UK, which has already caused issues in Scotland.