Breadcrumbs
taking forward the report of the policy commission on the future of farming & food (AP02/13)
FOR DECISION
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Relevance to Strategy and Corporate Plan:
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Staff and financial implications:
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Main issues to concern the Board:
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Background
1. To fulfil a manifesto commitment at the last election, a Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food was established by the Government in August 2001. It was chaired by Sir Don Curry.
2. The Commission was charged 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 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, enlargement of the EU and increased trade liberalisation."3. The Agency made an input to the Policy Commission's work, submitting a substantial memorandum in October 2001.
4. The Commission's report was published at the end of January 2002. The Government's immediate response was positive. The DEFRA press release included the following quote from the Prime Minister:
"The Commission's vision for a future of sustainable food and farming industries is one that many will find attractive. But, as ever, the challenge is in getting there. We want to work with farmers and all other stakeholders to build a consensus for change. Margaret Beckett and I are fully committed to delivering on this challenge."5. We were also very pleased with the outcome of the exercise and with the recommendations made. Annex 3 to this paper assesses the recommendations from the Countryside Agency's perspective, and identifies those which we regard as a priority for implementation and areas where we are already undertaking work which will contribute to desired outcomes.
6. The Government's aim is to publish a full response to the report and to launch a new strategy for food and farming in the early autumn. This will be informed by the outcome of the SR2002 (Spending Review 2002) process and by conclusions from a major exercise to consult and engage with stakeholders on the Policy Commission's recommendations. To stimulate discussion DEFRA published Sustainable Food and Farming: Working Together at the end of March.
Purpose of this paper
7. This paper:
- summarises the main areas where the Government is seeking a view;
- proposes those areas where the Countryside Agency should be involved.
The subject coverage is very wide and our capacity to make a meaningful input limited. The areas proposed for engagement are ones where we have a particular interest and expertise and have value to add to the debate.
Areas for consideration by DEFRA identified in Sustainable Food and Farming: Working Together
8. The areas identified are:
- Farming and the food chain;
- Improving the Performance of Farmers and other Land Managers;
- Resource protection;
- Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and targeting subsidies to promote sustainability;
- England Rural Development Programme and Diversification;
- Regulatory framework including whole farms plans/audits;
- Healthy eating;
- Animal Health and Welfare.
9. Annex 1 to this paper sets out the main issues under each of the eight areas and shows the relative importance to our goals. The main action we propose is:
- We will be fully engaged, through the LUPG, in the collaborative work with Assured Farm Standards and DEFRA to develop farm assurance schemes;
- We will continue to encourage a more strategic approach to the development of added value, especially that associated with countryside character ('Eat the View'). We will identify barriers to the production and sale of local sustainably produced food and other products. We will participate in the DEFRA-led group to work out how to make more of local produce;
- We will seek to influence the review of hedgerow regulations and other measures designed to address damage to landscapes and habitats;
- We will encourage the establishment of a measurable description of good farming practice, with workable links to the proposed 'broad and shallow' agri-environment scheme and farm assurance schemes;
- We will be working to influence the mid-term review of Agenda 2002, as agreed at the February 2002 Board meeting, through LUPG and directly. A critical element of this will be the potential extension of modulation, in scale and scope;
- WE will respond to consultation on devising a new re-entry level tier to agri-environment schemes, also seeking to increase the resources available for diversification, and to integrate the ERDP schemes with other programmes with similar objectives, and to make stronger links with communities;
- We will support DEFRA's work to develop the potential of whole farm plans, drawing on our own models (Land Management Initiatives, Inheritance Tax exemptions etc)
April 2002
File: 15,164
Annex 1
AREAS FOR CONSIDERATION BY DEFRA
Farming and the Food Chain
Key issues | Proposed CA action |
1 Improving the working of the food chain, including benchmarking, supply chain analyses and promoting best practice. A new Food Chain Centre is to be set up | Minor We will wish to influence the agenda of the FCC to ensure that landscape and rural communities are considered in the drive for efficiencies and that sustainable practice is encouraged |
2 Promotion of collaboration and co-operation between producers | Minor We will wish to encourage and endorse this approach and will facilitate through our regional "Eat the View" activities. See 5 |
3 Development of farm assurance schemes | Major Already engaged as a major player in collaborative work with Assured Farm Standards and DEFRA, and through LUPG |
4 Improving marketing performance and competitiveness. Proposed new Agriculture Development Scheme (ADS) | Minor Respond to DEFRA consultation on a new ADS and advise on how this might be better integrated with use of Processing and Marketing Grants and the Rural Enterprise Scheme. Draw on experience in the regions. |
5 Development of added value, niche and speciality products, including organic food, local produce and locality and regional produce. Links with environmental objectives | Major Through implementation of the "Eat the View" programme, continue to encourage a more strategic approach to this area, and to the identification of barriers to the production and sale of local sustainable produce at a national and regional level. Participate in the DEFRA cross cutting group which is considering the recommendations in the Curry report in this area and how they might be taken forward. As this progresses, form a view on how/ whether to adjust the outputs of the "Eat the View" programme. The Report from the (LUPG) contract to establish higher environmental standards for food (red tractor plus) will inform work on assurance, achieving more sustainable production and adding value through this route. |
Improving the Performance of Farmers and other Land Managers
Key issues | Proposed CA action |
1 Improved education and training provision for land managers | Minor Input to DEFRA/DfES/Lantra review. We will wish to make the links with our plans to set up a national rural apprenticeship scheme for the rural micro business sector |
2 Development of a pilot network of Demonstration Farms to promote technology transfer | Minor We will wish to influence the direction of this programme to ensure that the CA's interests are not overlooked |
3 Improved co-ordination of strategic and industry-led research: includes proposals for a Priorities Board and an Applied Research Forum | None |
Resource Protection
Key issues | Proposed CA action |
1 Reducing farming impacts reflected through water pollution, soil degradation and erosion, air pollution from ammonia emissions and contributions to climate change. Dealing with farm wastes. Links with EU environmental directives and managing the regulatory burden | Minor Primary responsibility rests with the Environment Agency |
2 Addressing damage to landscapes and habitats | Major Input to anticipated review of Hedgerow Regulations. Links to 4 |
3 Water management issues | Minor Feed in experience of LMIs where a number have been exploring the wider benefits from managing water resources differently, and promote the positive role land managers could play in water management and flood control |
4 Linking the above, can a measurable description of good farming practice be established? What contribution should a new "broad and shallow" agri-environment scheme be expected to play in reducing the negative impacts of farming? What is the role of farm assurance schemes in this area? | Major We will draw on the results of research contracts and practical activity (e.g. by the LMIs) and will respond through formal consultations (e.g. on agri-environment) and working groups (e.g. on assurance schemes). See also the section below on the England Rural Development Plan and Diversification |
Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and targeting subsidies to promote sustainability
Key issues | Proposed CA action |
1 How to secure significant reforms at the mid term review of Agenda 2000 | Major Actions agreed at the February 2002 Board Meeting, involving close working with the other UK countryside agencies through LUPG. Paper AP02/01 refers |
2 Should modulation be pursued to redirect money to the "second pillar" of the CAP in advance of EU-wide changes | As above |
3 What types of measure should it be possible to fund from money raised by modulation? | As above |
England Rural Development Programme and Diversification
Key issues | Proposed CA action |
1 How to streamline and make more efficient the present agri-environment schemes and get more landowners involved, and the place of an entry-level tier with less demanding prescriptions ("broad and shallow"). On 26th March DEFRA published a consultation document on a major review of agri-environment schemes | Major We will be responding to the consultations relating to the review of agri-environment schemes (paper AP02/14 refers) and will be advising DEFRA on the development of the broad and shallow scheme, drawing on experience from the LMIs. |
2 How to support rural diversification more effectively. The Policy Commission proposed increasing the funding for the Rural Enterprise Scheme and Processing and Marketing Grant, encouragement for organic farming, diversification into non-food crops, and special help for farm tenants | Major We will wish to press for more resources to encourage diversification, including an expansion in funding for the Rural Enterprise Scheme and more support for activities "beyond the farm gate" |
3 How to ensure that the ERDP provides maximum benefits to communities as well as to individuals | Major We have been specifically asked to advise DEFRA on this issue |
4 How can the ERDP be better integrated with other programmes whose objectives are similar? | Major We are already advising DEFRA on this issue and are working with them on a pilot facilitation service in the north west helping to make links with other programmes. LMI experience is also relevant |
Regulatory framework including whole farm plans/audits
Key issues | Proposed CA action |
1 Minimising the burden of regulation, including influencing the development of EU environmental legislation | Minor Primary responsibility rests with the Environment Agency |
2 Making it easier for land managers to comply with regulatory requirements | As above |
3 Developing the potential of whole farm plans and IT approaches to needs in this area | Major - We will draw on our experiences from practical projects (e.g. LMIs and IHT management plans) and from research (e.g. on integrated advice) in order to advise DEFRA on this issue |
Healthy Eating
Key issues | Proposed CA action |
1 Encouraging and supporting healthy eating and a better diet | Minor Links to "Eat the View" |
2 Action on better food labelling, including country of origin | Minor Links to our work on farm assurance schemes and "Eat the View" |
3 Addressing environmental and animal welfare concerns through food labelling | As above |
Animal Health and Welfare
Key issues | Proposed CA action |
1 Developing a comprehensive animal health strategy | None |
2 Raising animal welfare standards across the EU | None |
3 How should disease control measures be paid for? | None |
Annex 2
REPORT OF THE POLICY COMMISSION ON THE FUTURE OF FARMING AND FOOD
ASSESSMENT OF RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY'S PERSPECTIVE
UPDATED ON 30 APRIL 2002
Summary of main recommendations | Comment | CA Action |
| 1. Rural Development Government should press for substantial reform of the CAP as soon as possible. The guiding principle must be that public money should be used to pay for public goods. Thus: remaining price supports must go, direct payments should be phased out as fast as possible and decoupled from production - and be subject to environmental conditions while they remain, resources should be transferred to pillar 2, and the UK's share of the EU budget should be increased (p23) | Fully endorse
These recommendations directly mirror our position CA priority | We are promoting this line in our influencing work on the Agenda 2000 mid term review and ERDP mid term evaluation. See Board papers AP02/01 and AP 02/02 |
| 2. Farming and the euro Give farmers the option of receiving their direct support payments in euros, for as long as these last (p25) | Could be helpful | |
| 3. Risk management Extend DEFRA work with the industry on risk management tools that could reduce the exposure of farming to currency movements, involving the Treasury and the main UK banks (p25) | Could be helpful | |
| 4. Benchmarking Review the process of statistical collection with a view to rationalisation and to ensure that data underpins benchmarking work reflecting the changes in the nature of many farm businesses (p27) | Agree | |
| 5. Research & technology transfer Government should set up a new 'priorities board' for strategic research involving all key stakeholders to set the agenda for public research on farming and food matters (p28) | Could be helpful |
6. Industry levy bodies and Government should improve co-ordination of applied farming and food research to avoid duplication and maximise synergies. Levy bodies should set up their own Applied Research Forum (p29) | Agree | |
7. Demonstration Farms DEFRA should work with the proposed Applied Research Forum and the levy bodies to establish a network of demonstration farms (p30) | Likely to be helpful. These would need to build on existing initiatives such as the LEAF network. CA experience should be drawn on, eg from our LMIs, and we could seek to establish such farms within LMI areas | |
8. Reconnecting the supply chain A permanent Food Chain Centre should be set up facilitated by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) with the aim of bringing people together from each part of the food chain (p32) | Likely to be helpful | We could feed in existing good practice identified through "Eat the View" and consumer research, due to report in June/July 2002 |
9. The Centre should, as a priority: develop supply chain analyses from producer to final point of sale starting with the red meat and fresh produce sectors to identify how efficiency savings can be achieved to benefit all players, prepare best practice reports, and as act a champion for benchmarking (p32) | Agree | |
10. Retailers and suppliers The Office of Fair Trading should undertake a review of the recently established Code of Practice on Supermarkets' Dealings with Suppliers (p33) | Welcome | |
11. All suppliers, retailers and food service companies should voluntarily sign up to the Code of Practice (p33) | Agree | |
12. Any disputes should be resolved, as a last resort, through an independent mediation service facilitated by the IGD (p34) | Could be helpful | |
13. Collaboration Competition authorities should consider the wider market context, particularly the consolidation of international suppliers, when looking at new or expanding collaborative ventures (p35) | Agree |
14. An English Collaborative Board should be established to encourage and support collaborative activity (p36) | Agree. It would be helpful if such a Board could provide marketing, business and grant advice. It would need to assist both large and small groups. It will be important to avoid setting up "old style" marketing boards via the backdoor CA priority | |
15. Managing risk With farmers assuming more risks within their business, the Government should encourage the wider use of risk management instruments (p37) | Agree | |
16. The Government should be prepared to support the development of basic safety net aids at EU level, once CAP price support is removed (p37) | Agree | |
17. The Treasury should consult with banks and other financial bodies to investigate efficient provision of suitable financial risk management instruments at a reasonable cost (p37) | Noted | |
18. The Government must strengthen checks and controls on illegal imports of meat products (p38) | Agree | |
19. Availability of labour The Seasonal Agriculture Worker Scheme quota should be increased immediately to 50,000 to address temporary labour shortages which are pushing up costs (p39) | Noted | |
20. The Red Tractor Scheme The Scheme needs strong enforcement to command consumer confidence and should be a baseline standard that all food produced in England should attain. It should be extended to cover environmental standards (p40) | Agree CA priority | Current joint work between DEFRA and the CA is addressing the issue of extending the standard to pick up the environmental dimension. It will be important to ensure that the standard is useful to smaller producers as well as large ones |
21. Current assurance schemes need to be rationalised behind the red tractor mark and the standards underpinning the mark owned by the whole food chain and managed by Assured Food Standards on their behalf (p40) | Agree | |
22. Once the new structure and standards are in place, the Red Tractor mark needs to be more strongly promoted to farmers, consumers and the food service industry. There is a role here for Government funding, matched by the industry and the levy boards (p40) | Agree | |
23. Higher level assurance schemes We are keen to see higher-level assurance schemes develop so long as they do not result in confusion. Discussion and collaboration between sponsoring organisations is needed (p41) | Agree CA priority | We are undertaking work in this area in collaboration with the other UK countryside agencies through LUPG, and in full consultation with DEFRA |
24. Adding value through further processing and marketing Funding for Processing and Marketing Grants should be expanded by £5 million a year for the next three years to assist collaborative enterprises with the investment needed in processing and marketing their products (p43) | Would be helpful, but could be at the expense of other ERDP funding streams unless new resources are found CA priority | We could work with DEFRA to run regional seminars to promote the RES to producers, and to illustrate good practice |
25. Local food The budget for the Rural Enterprise Scheme should be substantially increased at the mid term review (p44) | This is our position, but could be at the expense of other ERDP funding streams unless new resources are found CA priority | |
26. RDAs should consider how to overcome problems of distribution and availability of processing within their regional economic strategies (p45) | Would be helpful | Already being considered in some regions through "Eat the View" or equivalent forums |
27. Professionally managed collaborative ventures developing processing units should have a high priority for grant funding. The English Collaborative Board should be involved in scrutinising applications (p45) | Agree | |
28. Retailers who give over a portion of their store as an outlet for local producers to sell direct to the public should be given business rate relief on that part of their premises (p45) | An interesting new approach, which we should support. However, care would be needed to ensure that small producers and farmers' markets were not disadvantaged |
29. Marketing and distribution of locality foods Locality food marketing should become mainstream in Britain as it already has in France and elsewhere. Management of regional food should transfer to a specialist body such as Food from Britain (FFB) and its Regional Food Groups. FFB should be given a new remit to reflect this task and additional funding, if needed (p46) | This recommendation has implications for our "Eat the View" programme | We will be taking part in the cross party group which is to consider these recommendations, and have also been asked to comment on proposals from FFB to DEFRA. We have yet to form a view whether the recommendations in Curry are the right way forward |
30. Each RDA should work with FFB and other partners to devise a regional food component to their regional economic strategies. The Countryside Agency should hand its work in this area on to FFB and the RDAs (p46) | This recommendation has implications for our "Eat the View" programme | See above |
31. Protecting local and locality brands Industry bodies should do more, with the help of FFB and the Regional Food Groups, to ensure that English producers take part in the Protected Food Names scheme (p46) | Agree | There are links here to our work on branding in protected areas |
32. The statutory basis of the Horticultural Development Council should be changed to enable it to engage in promotion (p47) | Could be helpful | |
33. Regulation Regulation should move towards whole farm approaches, with flexible management of environmental risks and basing enforcement on risk assessments (p49) | Agree. See also 74 and 75 CA priority |
34. Government should monitor the cumulative effect of regulation and compliance costs should be published. Benefits of new regulations need to be identified and quantified (p49) | Agree | |
35. Existing regulations should be codified into a single web site. Regulation should be categorised. Best practice needs to be promulgated, drawing on experience in other sectors (p49) | Could be helpful | |
36. Animal health DEFRA, in consultation with the industry, need to devise and implement a comprehensive animal health strategy (p50) | Probably agree. This is a complex area | |
37. Encouraging farmers to participate in the National Scrapie Plan should be given the highest priority by DEFRA (p50) | Agree | |
38. Full electronic traceability of livestock should be achieved as soon as possible (p50) | Agree | |
39. Over Thirty Months Scheme The proposed FSA review of the 30 month rule should be started as soon as possible and an exit strategy negotiated with the EU (p51) | Noted | |
40. As soon as the UK can move into the 'low risk' category the Date Based Export Scheme should be wound up. In the meantime it needs to be made more accessible for beef exporters (p51) | Noted | |
41. Agricultural Wages Board The future of the Board should be reconsidered after the CAP mid term review and in anticipation of large-scale CAP reform (p52) | Noted | |
42. Planning DTLR should implement the conclusions of the recent review of planning policy and ensure that all planning authorities are resourced to follow best practice and give professional advice to rural businesses considering diversification (p54) | Agree CA priority | |
43. Renewable raw materials and energy crops England needs a long-term strategy for creating and exploiting opportunities in non-food crops (p54) | We have recognised the potential in this area too and it featured in Ewen Cameron's speech to the Oxford Farming Conference. There could be a distinctive role for RDAs in this area CA priority | We have proposed a national framework for non-food crops, which could guide an otherwise host of individual decisions, supported by marketing advice and incentives, to help determine what should be grown and where, in what quantity, to what timescale, and within what level of economic risk |
44. Government should reduce the duty on biofuels to that charged on other clean fuels to help convince processors to drive the market forward (p55) | Agree | |
45. Planning guidance should strongly support development of local combined heat and power and gasification plants (p55) | Support, but care needed over implementation | |
46. Future environmental schemes, and where appropriate woodland schemes, should include water management as an option for support. Land management responses to flooding should be eligible for funding alongside more traditional methods of flood defence. The farming industry should look to embrace water management as a viable 'alternative crop'. (p56) | See 77 | |
47. Tenancy DEFRA, DTLR and the Treasury should conduct a review of the tax position of Farm Business Tenancies to encourage longer lets and sensible diversification. (p57) | Agree. Many tenant farmers have difficulty in taking advantage of schemes under the ERDP because of the length and nature of their tenancy agreements | |
48. Restructuring the industry DEFRA should work up a comprehensive supporting pack of advice for farmers considering retirement (p58) | Would be helpful | |
49. Encouraging new entrants Alternative entry methods, such as share farming and contract farming, are needed. The Government is also encouraged to sponsor the NFU to create and manage a matching service to bring together new entrants with retiring farmers who do not have successors (p59/60) | Agree | |
50. Developing knowledge and skills The Department of Work and Pensions should review rural schemes being developed in Scotland and Wales for their relevance to England (p60) | Agree | |
51. Vocational training The 25 years age limit on Entering Modern Apprenticeships should be removed (p60) | Agree | |
52. DFES should support Graduate Apprenticeships in farming, horticulture and land (including woodland) management (p61) | Could be useful | |
53. Administration of the Vocational Training Scheme (VTS) should be simplified and better integrated into the environmental management aspects of the ERDP (p61) | Agree CA priority | |
54. Universities and agricultural colleges should be fully involved in the Centres of Excellence programme. Lantra and DEFRA should review agricultural education in full (p62) | Agree | |
55. Better business advice The results of the Bodmin and Bowland initiatives and the CA's LMIs should be evaluated using the lessons learned to inform a full and open review of farm advice services and priorities for action (p63) | Agree CA priority | We are working with DEFRA towards better advisory services. We are sponsoring research into best practice in integrated advice in a contract for a DEFRA programme. Our own LMIs are pioneering new approaches |
56. A Farming Advice line should be set up to signpost farmers to the best advice currently available. This should be web-based and linked to guidance on regulations. See 35 (p63) | Potentially very useful | |
57. All publicly-funded advisers should be accredited. Training is needed to develop advisers' all round skills and knowledge (p64) | Agree | |
58. Those joining the proposed entry level agri-environment scheme (see 73 ) should receive three days of advice (p64) | Support | |
59. As an initial contribution to developing knowledge, skills and co-operative working, every farmer should receive a £250 training credit annually for the next three years (p64) | Probably support | |
60. New industry, new structure The idea of a confederation of British agriculture is worth exploring (p65) | Could be useful | |
61. Government and the industry should review the full range of industry bodies to ensure that they remain in tune with the industry's new ethos (p65) | Agree |
62. Environment The Government should make a clear statement of its support for farming as a sustainer of the rural environment as well as a food producer, and properly reward the industry for its role in managing the countryside (p70) | Agree CA priority | |
63. EU Directives Minimum legal standards are set to rise over the coming decade. The Government should develop a strategy for implementing EU directives, including monitoring requirements and cost benefit analyses and impact assessments (p72) | Probably support | |
64 A market for environmental goods should be created. Government needs to ensure that such a market is not "struck down" by WTO rules (p73) | Agree CA priority | Our Strategy for Sustainable Land Management in England promotes this concept |
65 Shifting the balance of incentives The sheep envelope is a precedent for creating flexibility within existing CAP schemes to pursue more sustainable objectives. The Government should press for similar flexibility in the beef envelope (p75) | Agree | |
66. Money in the envelopes should be used in ways that encourage environmentally desirable behaviour (p75) | Agree CA priority | |
67. Modulation The Government should increase rates of modulation to 10% from 2004 (p77) | Agree. This is the CA position CA priority | |
68. If substantial CAP reform is not achieved by 2006-07, the Government should give serious consideration to increasing modulation to 20% (p77) | Agree. This is the CA position CA priority | |
69. The Government, and the devolved administrations, should modulate on a flat rate basis, using the money raised to provide additional funding for the rural development programmes. Government should fully match fund the modulated resources, i.e. at 100% (p77) | This is the CA position. However, the alternative, progressive model, ought to be re-visited before final decisions are taken CA priority | |
70. Extensification premia should be left unmodulated in recognition of their positive environmental effect (p77) | Interesting new idea. Probably support | |
71. The bulk of the money generated from modulation should go towards paying farmers via agri-environment schemes for environmental benefits through positive land management (p78) | Probably agree | |
72. Existing agri-environment schemes More needs to be done to deliver simplified application procedures and reduce administrative costs (p79) | Agree CA priority | |
73 A new approach to agri-environment schemes The existing suite of schemes should be rationalised to become the upper tiers of a single new stewardship scheme. At the bottom should be added a new 'broad and shallow' scheme involving a much larger land area and many more land managers (p80) | This is the right direction of travel. We have long argued for a "broad and shallow" scheme available to all farmers. CA priority | There is to be a major review of agri-environment schemes in England as part of the mid-term evaluation of the ERDP. Work within our LMIs will inform this review. See ERDP mid-term evaluation Board paper AP02/02 |
74. Entry to the proposed single new stewardship scheme should be linked to a new whole farm audit and plan (p81) | Agree CA priority | |
75. Whole farm plans and audit The whole farm audit and plan should be grafted on to the existing IACS system, where it applies, to minimise the need for new procedures (p82) | Agree |
76. The proposed audit would help farmers meet their existing and potential legal requirements. It should be rolled out as soon as possible and extended to all farms (not just those involved in the stewardship scheme) to provide all farmers with basic information about their environmental obligations and opportunities (p82) | Agree | |
77. Payments for positive management The Government should increase the level of spending substantially on agri-environment schemes, through modulation in the short term (p84) | Agree CA priority | |
78. In addition to creating a single stewardship scheme, the scheme should in due course incorporate other land management grants, for example for woodland and flood protection (p84) | Needs careful thought | |
79. The bulk of any new money should be spent to create the proposed new broad and shallow stewardship tier. The tier must be kept simple and easy to operate, with payment on a flat rate basis per hectare and light compliance monitoring (p84) | Probably agree | Through the LMI programme, we are specifically investigating what a "broad and shallow" scheme might look like |
80. Upland areas The existing Hill Farm Allowance funding, along with receipts from modulation, should be combined in upland areas to become a single broad and shallow scheme for hill areas. Taking the two funding streams together would produce higher payments in the hills (p85) | Probably support | |
81. Agri-environment programmes should be given a measure of stability by fixing a floor at the start of the agreement below which payments would not be allowed to fall for five years (p87) | Likely to fall foul of EU rules | |
82. The Government needs to ensure that DEFRA has the necessary resources to ensure that the new scheme is administered properly, with investment in mapping technology and IT to maximise efficiency (p87) | Agree CA priority | |
83 The operation of the proposed broad and shallow scheme should be piloted across a range of sectors as soon as possible (p87) | Agree | |
84. Organic farming Support for organic farming remains justified and would be best delivered as a separate strand to the proposed broad and shallow agri-environment tier (p88) | Needs careful thought | |
85. A strategy for organic production is needed covering research, development, standards and marketing and addressing all parts of the food chain. The proposed Food Chain Centre should take the lead in partnership with the Soil Association (p89) | Could be helpful |
86. Technology Capital allowances should be offered on specified new environmental pollution control and monitoring equipment (p89) | Probably support | |
87. Biotechnology The Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission (AEBC) is the right body to help Government steer a course on GM issues (p90) | Agree | |
88. A new regulatory and monitoring approach is needed to ensure that members of the public who want GM food can have it. Proposals are needed alongside the findings of the farm scale evaluations on GM crops (p90) | Agree | |
89. Pesticides R & D and technology transfer on techniques, such as IFM, that can reduce the need for pesticides should continue to be a high priority for public funding (p91) | Agree | |
90. The voluntary industry package of measures on pesticide use should be embedded within the Red Tractor scheme (p91) | Probably support | |
91. The case for a pesticides tax should be kept under review (p91) | Agree | |
92. The Advisory Committee on Pesticides should have a wider remit and representation to allow a broader, more inclusive and open approach to its work (p92) | Agree | |
93. Food chain and the environment Supermarkets should re-examine their supply routes in the light of the environmental impact of food distribution, including traffic congestion. Reducing the transport of animals to centralised slaughter plants should be a special priority (p93) | Agree CA priority | |
94. Labelling Compulsory country of origin labelling should be introduced for as wide a range of food as possible. Food should not qualify as being from a particular country merely on the grounds of having been processed there (p97/98) | Agree CA priority | |
95. The needs of the food service sector should be addressed to ensure that consumers have the information they need to make informed decisions (p98) | Agree CA priority | |
96. Access to farms Access should be seen as part of the new contract with taxpayers who will be funding environmental management payments (p98) | Agree CA priority | |
97. All school children should get an opportunity to visit a working farm. The Department for Education and Skills should explore whether a national voucher scheme is needed to make this happen (p99) | Support. School visits to farms have been declining for a variety of reasons including constraints on school budgets and curricula time but also concerns about safety following "food scares" | We are to let a contract, in a joint initiative with the NFU, to develop an accreditation system for farms involved in school visits. We are developing a new initiative for school-age children following the Downing Street Seminar on 26th March. This will be aimed at improving understanding of food, farming and land management |
98. More industry bodies should join FACE (Farming and Countryside Education) the new body bringing together the education work of the NFU and RASE (p99) | Agree | We are working with FACE in the new initiative with school-age children - see above |
99. Animal welfare The move to an assured supply chain should prevent producers operating below the provisions of the welfare codes of good practice being able to market their produce. If not, a licence system should be implemented to ensure enforcement of the codes for farmers not involved in assurance (p100) | Probably support | |
100. EU wide agreements are needed to raise animal welfare standards across Europe (p100) | Agree | |
101. Healthy eating The Department of Health, the FSA and DEFRA should come together to produce a strategy to encourage healthy eating (p103) | Probably support |
102. The industry should establish a group to look at how the industry can play its part in encouraging good nutrition. The food service industry also needs to be included in this effort (p103) | Agree | |
103. The Government should move as fast as it can in rolling out its proposed National School Fruit Scheme to improve nutrition (p105) | Agree | |
104. In promoting good nutrition, the needs of low income consumers must be addressed. A role is seen for RDAs (p106) | This is an important issue | Farmers' markets are relevant here, as is our work with the Soil Association to promote local food economies |
105. Public procurement The new cross-Government group which has been set up to examine how Government procurement can support environmental outcomes should look at food sourcing and public procurement rules (p104) | Agree. We have already urged this |
