“Farming is the bedrock of the UK’s largest manufacturing food and drink, an industry worth £112 billion. A no deal - in terms of a transition period or the long-term future relationship - would have severe affects for UK farmers and growers. With the vast majority of our exported farmed produce going to the EU any impacts on food production and farming would have severe knock on effects to the entire food supply chain, and ultimately the public.
“Furthermore our access to a competent and reliable workforce, with many of our colleagues in the food and farming sector coming from the EU, would be severely curtailed. Many farm sectors are already struggling to fill job vacancies in the wake of the referendum vote, and further reduction in people available would see a corresponding reduction in investment in the industry, at a time when we are at one with the Government’s desire to see growth in both productivity and output in our sector.
“Perhaps there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel with the announcement that preparations for negotiations to move to the future relationship will now commence. However, we are under no illusion that this falls short of a decision to actually move the negotiations on.
“Negotiators must now show determination and recognise the urgency of acting consensually and considerately in reaching a Brexit settlement that works for farmers, the wider economy and the public.”
:: You can read a
皇家华人and Brexit - what we're doing on behalf of our members:
The NFU's Vision paper, Delivering a bold and ambitious future for farming, outlines what it would like government to adopt as part of a new Domestic Agricultural Policy to ensure UK farming is profitable, productive and competitive in the future.
We're also inviting members to attend Brexit Roadshows, jointly hosted with AHDB, which are taking place across the country (17 October - 2 November 2017). See where they're taking place and register to attend here.