皇家华人commissioned OnePoll to survey 2,000 adults in England & Wales between 3 and 9 May 2024. Results found that 74% of the public have a favourable view of farmers and growers, recognising how hard they work through rain and shine, to produce food for the nation.聽
Of those surveyed, 91% said they feel that farming is important to the UK economy, demonstrating the key role agriculture businesses play in kickstarting growth for Labour鈥檚 new mission-led government.
The survey was published at the NFU鈥檚 first parliamentary reception since the general election, which took place today in the House of Lords.
鈥榃e never take it for granted鈥�
NFU President Tom Bradshaw expressed his gratitude to the public for their continued support of British farmers and growers.
"When we鈥檙e out in our fields, sheds and glasshouses we never take it for granted and it spurs us on to get the food onto their plates," he said.
鈥淭he results of the survey show it is vital the new government recognises how much the public value our farmers and growers and the climate-friendly, nutritious food we provide. This will be a key focus at our reception with new MPs today.鈥�
Key figures at a glance
鈥�When we鈥檙e out in our fields, sheds and glasshouses we never take it for granted and it spurs us on to get the food onto their plates.鈥�
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
New MPs and Peers today heard that:
- 89% of the public feel it is important that Britain has a productive farming industry.
- 85% of people support increasing self-sufficiency in UK food production.
- 87% of people think it is important that trade deals ensure animal welfare standards are the same in countries we import food from as in the UK.
鈥淎s outlined in the Labour manifesto, food security is national security,鈥� Tom added.
He said the key to delivering this shared mission is confidence, which is currently at an all-time low for agricultural businesses.
The NFU鈥檚 recent farmer confidence survey of almost 800 member businesses scanned horizons across all major UK farming sectors and saw short-term (one-year) confidence fall from -8 last year to -25 this time around, on a scale of -100 to +100, mid-term confidence (three year) only marginally higher at -22.
Agricultural budget key to unlocking growth
鈥淚t鈥檚 imperative that policies from the new government revitalise the confidence of farm businesses,鈥� Tom said.
皇家华人has said the government鈥檚 number one priority must be to set a UK wide agricultural budget of 拢5.6 billion.
皇家华人commissioned the independent Andersons Centre to model the public funding needed to deliver statutory environment, climate and policy ambitions in England over the next Parliament. It showed an annual agriculture budget of around 拢4 billion would be required which would translate to a UK-wide budget of around 拢5.6 billion.
Tom added: 鈥淚t is not just 鈥榤ore money for farmers鈥� but an investment that means farmers and growers can do more of what the public value them for; delivering more climate friendly, high welfare food, delivering for the environment, increasing clean energy production and kickstarting economic growth.鈥�
