The event showcased the plethora of food and feed that arable farmers produce the raw ingredients for and provided an opportunity to talk MPs through the arable sector’s contribution to the economy, environment and society.
The campaign, aiming to raise the political profile of the arable sector to garner wider support for policy priorities, was first launched to farmers at the Cereals event last month and has since received widespread support.
NFU crops board chairman Tom Bradshaw said:
“The Westminster launch of the #YourHarvest campaign will be incredibly important in garnering MP support for the arable sector.
“MPs will have the opportunity to see, smell, touch and even taste the variety of products that come from our fields of wheat and barley. This event is about creating a strong link in MPs’ minds between the ear of wheat and the flour, bread, feed and straw that it goes towards.
“The most important part of this event is to urge MPs to see harvest for themselves and visit a farm in their own constituency over summer recess.
“As custodians of 70% of the UK, we’re proud to take responsibility for the iconic British countryside that every constituent can enjoy. And at the same time we’re delivering the raw ingredients for the safe, traceable and affordable food that every constituent needs.
“We’ll be making clear to MPs that our crops are the backbone of the British food and drink industry. There has never been a more important time for us to celebrate arable farming’s role, and this event is an important milestone in the campaign to do just that.”