NFU vice president, Guy Smith said: “We have been warning that in the lifetime of the current European Parliament, we would face significant threats to PPPs. This important and timely report has confirmed and added clarity to the negative impacts that losses and restrictions on PPPs would have on UK food production, on farm and throughout the supply chain.
“It is absolutely essential that farmers have regulation that is risk-based and that it follows sound science to ensure the farming sector keeps growing and contributing to the £97billion UK food and drink industry. For this to happen we need government at both UK and EU level to put British food production at the heart of policy-making across all government departments.”
The Chair of the meeting, MP Mark Spencer said: “It is vital the UK remains competitive in global food production so that we are able to feed ourselves without becoming over-dependent on imports. To achieve this we need as many tools in the toolbox as possible.”
“At the moment we’re asking UK farmers to keep us well-fed with one arm tied behind their back by restricting their access to global technologies.”