An ambitious and revolutionary approach to levelling up rural
Britain can create jobs, boost green economic growth, increase
exports and improve the wellbeing of the entire nation, a new
report from the NFU highlights.
Launched at the NFU’s annual conference today, the report
‘Levelling up rural Britain’ highlights how British
farming and rural Britain can provide the solution to many of the
challenges the nation faces by driving sustainable food
production and pioneering food policy that produces carbon
neutral food.
It also showcases how rural Britain is uniquely placed to help
the recovery of the nation from Covid-19; delivering physical and
mental health through the farmed landscape, which has been a
lifeline for so many during lockdown, and supporting the return
to whole-food cooking with nutritious, sustainable and affordable
British food.
The report says that no one should be disadvantaged by where they
live or where their business is based. It highlights several
areas where the rural and urban divide continues to grow
including:
- Broadband and connectivity – poor access to reliable mobile
coverage and adequate broadband continues to put rural areas at a
disadvantage1, acting as a constraint to capital
investment.
- Rural crime – farms and rural communities have increasingly
become the target of criminals in recent years, with rural crime
costing the UK £54.3 million in 20192. Rural areas
continue to receive lower levels of police funding, per head of
population, than urban areas3.
- Planning – The planning system too often prevents farm
modernisation, diversification and home building for farm
workers. The government’s planning White Paper offers an
opportunity to reform and ensure renewal and growth can be
sustained in rural areas.
- Investment - UK Government should be encouraging more
investment, including British investment, into the success story
that is British food.
In her speech to NFU Live 2021, NFU President Minette Batters
will say: “Investment in farming and in rural Britain not only
brings about obvious benefits to food production but can have
massive benefits to the whole country. If the past 12 months has
taught us one thing, it’s that we are all in this together - and
a country which levels up everyone, everywhere, is a stronger
country.
“Levelling up Britain is not just a north and south issue.
Levelling up Britain is also a rural and urban issue. We need to
enable collaborative green growth to level up rural Britain,
providing the economic solutions to a truly one nation UK.
“Our report today highlights four principles that form the basis
of a new, ambitious approach. If we get it right, it can help our
whole country and everybody living within it.
“Rural Britain can deliver jobs, green growth, exports and
wellbeing for a nation in recovery.
“We know the world is an unusual place at the moment, but we have
to get ready for the future. We face a time of risk, opportunity,
but above all else, a time of change. We can choose to look
inwards, pretend that nothing will change, or we can look up,
open our eyes to the world, and decide to own our farming
destiny.
“Lead the world on sustainable food production, driving
profitable, thriving businesses that can do even more for the
environment and biodiversity. I see that leadership every day on
your farms so let this be the decade that the rest of the world
sees and buys into it too.”
-ends-
Notes to editor:
- Interviews are available with NFU officeholders and farmer
case studies are available to bring to life the issues raised in
the report.
- Only 40% of farmers felt their broadband speeds were
sufficient, according to the NFU’s Digital Connectivity Survey.
- NFU Mutual’s theft claim figures for 2019 revealed that rural
crime cost the UK £54.3 million – the highest cost recorded in
eight years.
- The Rural Services Network estimated that in 2018/19 rural
areas received £167.01 per head of population in police funding
compared to £206.20 in urban areas, equivalent to a 23.5%
difference.
