Plans to help the UK’s farmers and food and drink
businesses boost exports have been announced today to mark Back
British Farming Day 2021.
The UK agri-food sector contributes around £20bn in exports
each year, yet only 20% of companies sell their goods overseas.
The exports initiative announced today will help farmers access
the UK’s considerable export potential.
It includes:
- appointing more dedicated ‘agri-food attaches’ to act as
representatives on the ground to unlock key markets across the
world. This will build on the excellent teams already working in
our Embassies around the world;
- establishing a Food and Drink Exports Council to work
collaboratively to expand our food and drink exports strategy. We
will engage closely with Devolved Administrations and others on
the design and implementation of the Export Council;
- strengthening our technical expertise as well as our farmers
and producers’ understanding of export markets to ensure that
food and drink exporters are able to benefit from market
opportunities.
The exports initiative will launch later in the
year.
Environment Secretary said:
“Our farmers are the lifeblood of our nation – producing
the home grown food that makes up a critical component of our
nation’s food security, and acting as stewards of our natural
environment.
“We want people at home and abroad to be lining up to buy
British. The support that we have announced today, to mark Back
British Farming Day, will enable our farmers and producers to
take advantage of new opportunities and fly the flag for UK
produce around the world.”
International Trade Secretary
said:
“British farming is at the heart of our trade policy.
Today’s new measures will build the capability of our excellent
international teams and having farming experts in post across the
world will help our food and drink producers seize the massive
new opportunities in the biggest and fastest-growing markets in
the world.
“Our food and drink is among the best in the world and an
independent trading nation we’re seizing new opportunities that
were previously denied to us.
“We have already secured better access to lucrative Asian
markets, including for UK beef in Hong Kong, Japan and the
Philippines.”
NFU President Minette Batters said:
"The NFU has long called for significant government
investment which enables a partnership approach to international
trade opportunities for British farmers. This is a positive step
in the right direction and I welcome this new commitment to put
people on the ground with the technical expertise to open up new
markets. I look forward to seeing more detail on this proposal
and working with government to boost our agri-food exports
abroad.”
This package further builds upon our plans to refresh the
International Action
Plan for food and drink (2016 – 2020) which we are
already working with the sector on developing, and strong
promotional footprint, including international promotion of the
best of British food and drink through the GREAT campaign.
New trade deals are opening doors for British agriculture
and food and drink businesses around the world, and the
Department for International Trade offers free advice and support
to help businesses take advantage of new global
opportunities.
Outside of the European Union, Defra continues to work with
English farmers on developing landmark plans for a renewed
agricultural sector. The Agricultural
Transition will transform the way farmers are
supported to reward them properly for the work that they do over
a transition period of seven years. This will be centred around
incentivising sustainable farming practices alongside profitable
food production and rewarding farmers for contributing towards
better air and water quality, protecting wildlife and soil
health.
In June, the Environment Secretary confirmed the early
roll-out of the Sustainable Farming Incentive from spring 2022,
the first of three environmental land management schemes to be
rolled out. The scheme, which will eventually be open to every
farmer in England, will support approaches to farming that
deliver for the environment, such as actions to improve soil
health, hedgerows and integrated pest management.
Today’s proposals reflect recommendations in the
independent report by Trade and Agriculture Commission, published
earlier this year, which made 22 proposals to advance the
interests of British farmers, food producers and consumers
through international trade. The Government’s full response will
be published shortly.
ENDS
Notes to editors
