The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) has welcomed Steve Reed MP as the newly-appointed Secretary of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Its chief executive, Robert Sheasby, emphasised the need for certainty in the UK agricultural industry by addressing key policy issues left incomplete by the previous government. He stated: “Our industry now desperately needs greater certainty to give businesses the confidence to invest.”
The AIC, representing 230 businesses in sectors such as animal feed, crop protection and agronomy, fertiliser, grain trading and seeds, highlighted the urgency of several unfinished policy issues.
These include the National Action Plan for Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products, due diligence on forest risk commodities, regulatory reform proposals in the Food Standards Agency (FSA), precision breeding (gene editing) legislation, and a land use framework strategy.
Additionally, he underlined the importance of negotiating a functioning veterinary or ‘Sanitary/Phytosanitary (SPS)’ agreement with the EU, which could benefit the entire agricultural supply chain, including UK farmers.
He also added: “Our country needs a comprehensive, cohesive approach to food security with an independent, statutory committee providing a joined-up, cross-government strategy. We also need a standardised approach to sustainability in the supply chains which make up our food system.”
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