Farmers unsurprised to be told UK must produce more food

Published on Monday 10 August 2009 20:01

MANY farmers might feel they had earned the right to a wry smile following the barrage of announcements that the UK needs to step up food production.

Food security was simply a word that the Labour government did not wish to hear.

That has all changed in recent months and now Hillary Benn, the Environment Secretary, is singing to a different tune.

Non-specialist commentators have also missed several important issues, not the least of which is the fact that food production and policy management are largely devolved, with Scottish ministers making many of the most important decisions.

However, Benn's consultation paper has been generally welcomed by experts, including Professor Peter Gregory, director of the Scottish Crop Research Institute.

He said: "The multiple challenges posed by an increasing global population – changed diets associated with increased wealth, the need for bio energy and climate change – have all re-focused attention on food security and the requirement for more efficient methods of production.

"Globally, suitable land for agriculture is limited and, as over the last 60 years, increases in production will need to come from increased yields.

"The challenge for SCRI is to find new crop varieties and new systems of production that can do this while simultaneously using inputs more efficiently and reducing emissions to the atmosphere and water bodies."

SCRI is a world-renowned centre for crop research. Scientists based there have bred many household names in soft fruit and vegetables, such as the world's number one raspberry, Glen Ample, and what has been hailed as the world's first environmentally friendly potato, Vales Sovereign, which requires appreciably less water and fertiliser than its rivals.

A recent independent assessment of the institute, at Invergowrie, near Dundee, showed that the organisation generated 160 million of business every year in the farming, food manufacturing and retail sectors.

That is a mere bagatelle and the institute's overall worth to Scotland is immense. Scotland's research institutes are relatively well funded, though budgets are under pressure as the Scottish government seeks savings.

This contrasts with England where many establishments have simply closed down.

The Barnes Report of the early 1980s advised prime minister Margaret Thatcher that funds for research into agriculture should be cut.

It was the result that Thatcher wanted but farmers and the wider agricultural community have been paying the price ever since. Strangely, Benn makes little mention of additional funds for research in his consultation paper.

However, Gregory and his team at SCRI remain totally focused: "Employing a wide range of technologies that permit timely release of new crops, durable disease and pathogen resistance, and the exploitation of new knowledge about pest control will be essential in meeting this challenge.

"Scotland's National Food and Drink Policy acknowledges SCRI's role in providing excellent science and innovation to support new healthier and sustainable food products in the renewed food security debate."

Many leading scientists are convinced that if the ambitious targets are increased the politicians will have to bite the bullet and sanction the growing of genetically modified crops.

However, the Scottish Government will have none of that notion. Benn seems to be of a similar opinion.

Incidentally, his report is strong on fruit and vegetables, but contains barely a mention of meat. He is, after all, a committed vegetarian.