Sky News Daily Faultlines: Can British farming survive?
May 10, 2024
20:58
Across the UK anger is brewing among farmers.
Protests have already been held in London, Dover and Wales, with more on the way - mirroring similar tensions seen across Europe in the last six months.
Their anger is focused on cheap foreign imports and changes to subsidies forcing farmers to give up land in favour of environmental schemes.
But what does this mean for the food on our table - and is British produce now a luxury product for the wealthy only?
On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by West of England and Wales correspondent Dan Whitehead to find out why farmers are so concerned, and speaks to Liz Webster, the founder of Save British Farming, about why she believes eating British isn't just good for our farmers - it's good for the nation's health, too.
In response to our report, Farming Minister Mark Spencer, said:
“We firmly back our farmers. British farming is at the heart of British trade, and we put agriculture at the forefront of any deals we negotiate, prioritising new export opportunities, protecting UK food standards and removing market access barriers.
“We’ve maintained the £2.4 billion annual farming budget and recently set out the biggest ever package of grants which supports farmers to produce food profitably and sustainably.”
The Welsh government said: “A successful future for Welsh farming should combine the best of our traditional farming alongside cutting-edge innovation and diversification. It will produce the very best of Welsh food to the highest standards, while safeguarding our precious environment and addressing the urgent call of the climate and nature emergencies.”
Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse
Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku
Editor: Paul Stanworth
Protests have already been held in London, Dover and Wales, with more on the way - mirroring similar tensions seen across Europe in the last six months.
Their anger is focused on cheap foreign imports and changes to subsidies forcing farmers to give up land in favour of environmental schemes.
But what does this mean for the food on our table - and is British produce now a luxury product for the wealthy only?
On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by West of England and Wales correspondent Dan Whitehead to find out why farmers are so concerned, and speaks to Liz Webster, the founder of Save British Farming, about why she believes eating British isn't just good for our farmers - it's good for the nation's health, too.
In response to our report, Farming Minister Mark Spencer, said:
“We firmly back our farmers. British farming is at the heart of British trade, and we put agriculture at the forefront of any deals we negotiate, prioritising new export opportunities, protecting UK food standards and removing market access barriers.
“We’ve maintained the £2.4 billion annual farming budget and recently set out the biggest ever package of grants which supports farmers to produce food profitably and sustainably.”
The Welsh government said: “A successful future for Welsh farming should combine the best of our traditional farming alongside cutting-edge innovation and diversification. It will produce the very best of Welsh food to the highest standards, while safeguarding our precious environment and addressing the urgent call of the climate and nature emergencies.”
Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse
Podcast Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku
Editor: Paul Stanworth